synthesize
gb/sˈɪnθəsˌaɪz/ us/sˈɪnθəsˌaɪz/
C1
English
~ 8800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
combine information into a whole
To bring together ideas or information from different places to make one clear, complete picture or explanation.
Usage pattern:
to synthesize [information/ideas] from [sources]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "synthesize" with "summarize." A summary makes something shorter, while a synthesis combines ideas from different sources into a new, complete view. Another mistake is saying "synthesize to" instead of "synthesize from" when talking about sources; the natural pattern is "synthesize information from several sources."
Synonyms
integrate (Often used when combining information smoothly into a unified system or explanation.)
|
combine (More general and less formal; does not always imply creating a carefully structured whole.)
Antonyms
analyze (Focuses on breaking something complex into parts, the opposite of putting parts together into a whole.)
Collocations
synthesize information
|synthesize data
|synthesize research
|synthesize ideas
|synthesize findings
Themes
academia
|communication
|thinking
|science
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The report synthesizes data from multiple international studies.
- In your essay, you need to synthesize the arguments of at least three different authors.
- The book synthesizes decades of research into a single, readable narrative.
- Her presentation skillfully synthesizes complex technical details for a general audience.
- The committee will synthesize the feedback and issue a set of recommendations.
Learner examples
- The teacher asked us to synthesize information from two articles.
- This chapter synthesizes many ideas into one clear model.
- Scientists synthesized data from many countries to write the report.
- You must synthesize your notes before the exam.
- The paper synthesizes many small studies into one big study.
Verb
technical
C1
action
2
produce a chemical artificially
To make a substance in a lab or factory by using planned chemical reactions, instead of taking it from nature.
Usage pattern:
to synthesize [a substance/compound] in [a lab]
Common mistake:
Learners may use "create" or "do" instead of the more precise technical verb, saying "do a chemical" instead of "synthesize a chemical." Another mistake is confusing this sense with the mental sense of combining ideas; in chemistry, the object is a substance, not information.
Synonyms
manufacture (Stresses industrial-scale production; not limited to chemicals but often used similarly in technical contexts.)
|
produce (Very general; does not specifically imply the use of chemical reactions.)
Antonyms
decompose (Means to break a substance down into simpler parts, the reverse of building it up through synthesis.)
Collocations
synthesize a compound
|synthesize a drug
|synthesize molecules
|chemically synthesize
|synthesize a material
Themes
science
|chemistry
|medicine
|technology
Examples
- The team has successfully synthesized a new anticancer compound.
- Ammonia can be synthesized from nitrogen and hydrogen under high pressure.
- Researchers are trying to synthesize the drug more cheaply and efficiently.
- This plastic is synthesized from renewable plant-based materials.
- They developed a new method to synthesize the pigment at room temperature.
Learner examples
- Scientists synthesized the medicine in a lab.
- The company can synthesize this chemical on a large scale.
- We learned how to synthesize simple organic compounds in class.
- The lab synthesized a new material for batteries.
- This drug was first synthesized in the 1990s.
Verb
technical
C1
action
3
generate sounds electronically
To make sounds, music, or speech with electronic machines or computer programs, not with natural voices or instruments alone.
Usage pattern:
to synthesize [sound/speech/music] using [equipment/software]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "synthesize" with "edit" or "mix" in audio contexts. "Synthesize" means to create the sound electronically, while "edit" or "mix" means to change or combine sounds that already exist.
Synonyms
generate (A broad technical term for producing signals or sound; does not specifically imply use of a synthesizer.)
|
simulate (Emphasizes making something that imitates another sound or voice, not just creating it electronically.)
Antonyms
record (Captures existing natural sound instead of creating new electronic sound from scratch.)
Collocations
synthesize speech
|synthesize sound
|synthesize music
|electronically synthesize
|speech-synthesize text
Themes
technology
|music
|computing
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Modern phones can synthesize speech from any written text.
- The composer used software to synthesize all of the drum parts.
- These tools allow you to synthesize realistic violin sounds.
- The system synthesizes the alarm tone in real time.
- They developed an algorithm to synthesize highly natural-sounding voices.
Learner examples
- The computer can synthesize a human voice.
- She uses a keyboard to synthesize music.
- This app synthesizes speech from my messages.
- The program can synthesize many different sounds.
- Engineers synthesized the sound of a real piano.
Verb
technical
C2
action
4
form biological molecules from components
To make important molecules like proteins or DNA from smaller parts, inside cells or in a lab.
Usage pattern:
to synthesize [proteins/DNA/molecules] in [cells/the lab]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this biological sense with the more general chemical one; in biology, the objects are usually proteins, DNA, or other biomolecules. Another mistake is using the noun form instead of the verb, for example writing "the cell synthesis proteins" instead of "the cell synthesizes proteins."
Synonyms
biosynthesize (More specific; used mainly for synthesis carried out by living organisms or biological systems.)
|
build (Informal and general; sometimes used metaphorically in explanations but lacks technical precision.)
Antonyms
break down (Describes splitting complex biological molecules into simpler ones, the opposite of synthesizing them.)
Collocations
synthesize proteins
|synthesize DNA
|synthesize RNA
|synthesize enzymes
|biologically synthesize
Themes
biology
|medicine
|science
|health
Examples
- Cells use amino acids to synthesize proteins.
- The liver synthesizes many of the proteins found in blood plasma.
- Researchers have managed to synthesize a short piece of viral DNA.
- Plants synthesize glucose during photosynthesis.
- The study explains how nerve cells synthesize and release neurotransmitters.
Learner examples
- Your body synthesizes vitamin D when you are in the sun.
- Cells synthesize proteins from amino acids.
- Scientists synthesized a new piece of DNA in the lab.
- The liver helps synthesize important proteins.
- Some bacteria can synthesize their own food.
Grammar
Dictionary form
synthesize
IPA
GB/sˈɪnθəsˌaɪz/
US/sˈɪnθəsˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
syn - thes - ize (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (syn)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: synthesize
- 3rd Person Singular: synthesizes
- Present Participle: synthesizing
- Past: synthesized
Word family
Forms
synthesizes
verb
synthesizing
verb
synthesized
verb
Related words
synthetically
adverb C1
synth
noun
Negative and opposite forms
natural
adjective A2
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.