crystallize

American  

[kris-tl-ahyz] / ˈkrɪs tlˌaɪz /

especially British, crystallise

verb (used with object)

crystallized, crystallizing

1. to form into crystals; cause to assume crystalline form.

2. to give definite or concrete form to.

   to crystallize an idea.

3. to coat with sugar.

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verb (used without object)

crystallized, crystallizing

1. to form crystals; become crystalline in form.

2. to assume definite or concrete form.

crystallize British  

/ ˈkrɪstəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to form or cause to form crystals; assume or cause to assume a crystalline form or structure

2. to coat or become coated with sugar

   crystallized fruit

3. to give a definite form or expression to (an idea, argument, etc) or (of an idea, argument, etc) to assume a recognizable or definite form

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Other Word Forms

• crystallizability noun
• crystallizable adjective
• crystallization noun
• crystallizer noun
• noncrystallizable adjective
• noncrystallized adjective
• noncrystallizing adjective
• uncrystallizable adjective
• uncrystallized adjective

Etymology

Origin of crystallize

First recorded in 1590–1600; crystall- + -ize

Example Sentences

“When things crystallize like this, it brings out the pitchforks and the torches,” said Marc Cenedella, CEO of the jobs platform Ladders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Bond markets are said to be a daily referendum on the government, as their moves crystallize the impact of fiscal, monetary, domestic, and foreign policies into a series of tradable data points.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

"As the companion cools down, the mixture of carbon and oxygen in the interior starts to crystallize," Romani said.

From Science Daily • Jan. 1, 2026

Where last year’s parade day felt more like an overdue coronation, this one served to crystallize their legacy.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

Now, however, I knew that genes could crystallize; hence they must have a regular structure that could be solved in a straightforward fashion.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson