Recent Examples on the WebThe test’s deadly ionizing radiation also contaminated nearby lands, water and communities for generations to follow.—Claudia Grisales, NPR, 7 June 2024 Still swirling in a horizontal magnetic field, the muons would ionize atoms in the material, dissipating energy and quelling their buzzing about.—Byadrian Cho, science.org, 28 Mar. 2024 Exposure to gamma radiation can ionize oxygen and nitrogen, creating elevated levels of nitrous oxides.—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 Contrary to popular belief, the heat a spacecraft faces on reentry isn't generated by simple friction but rather by ram pressure—the fast-moving shuttle compresses the air in front of it, forming a massive shock zone in which air molecules ionize and break apart.—Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 1 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for ionize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ionize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
ion + -ize, after German ionisiren (now ionisieren) or French ioniser
Share