Standard Lemma guide

magnetize

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈmæɡ.nɪ.taɪz/
  • /ˈmæɡ.nə.taɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make magnetic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To become magnetic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To hypnotize using mesmerism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

Examples

  • c. 1789, Elizabeth Inchbald, Animal Magnetism: A Farce, Dublin, P. Byron, Act III, p. 82, Lisette let him alone, it is dangerous to push the poor creature to extremities, Doctor, suppose we Magnetize him?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To attract, allure or entice; to captivate or entrance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

make magnetic

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The strong magnet magnetized the iron shavings

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: magnetise

Antonyms: demagnetize

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

6

verb

Meaning 6

attract strongly, as if with a magnet

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She magnetized the audience with her tricks

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mesmerize, mesmerise, magnetise, bewitch, spellbind

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: charm, influence, tempt

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Old French magnetebor. Pre-Greekbor.? Ancient Greek Μάγνης (Mágnēs) Ancient Greek μᾰ́γνης (mắgnēs)bor. Latin magnēsbor. Middle English magnete English magnet Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English magnetize From magnet + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: магні́ціць (mahnícicʹ) — to make magnetic
  • Belarusian: намагні́чваць (namahníčvacʹ) — to make magnetic
  • Belarusian: намагні́ціць (namahnícicʹ) — to make magnetic
  • Bulgarian: магнетизирам (magnetiziram) — to make magnetic
  • Catalan: magnetitzar — to make magnetic
  • Dutch: magnetiseren — to make magnetic
  • Galician: magnetizar — to make magnetic
  • German: magnetisieren — to make magnetic
  • Greek: μαγνητίζω (magnitízo) — to make magnetic
  • Irish: maighnéadaigh — to make magnetic
  • Polish: magnetyzować — to make magnetic
  • Polish: zmagnetyzować — to make magnetic
  • Polish: magnesować — to make magnetic
  • Polish: namagnesować — to make magnetic
  • Portuguese: magnetizar — to make magnetic
  • Portuguese: imantar — to make magnetic
  • Russian: магни́тить (magnítitʹ) — to make magnetic
  • Russian: намагни́чивать (namagníčivatʹ) — to make magnetic
  • Russian: намагни́тить (namagnítitʹ) — to make magnetic
  • Spanish: magnetizar — to make magnetic
  • Swedish: magnetisera — to make magnetic
  • Ukrainian: магні́тити (mahnítyty) — to make magnetic
  • Ukrainian: намагні́чувати (namahníčuvaty) — to make magnetic
  • Ukrainian: намагні́тити (namahnítyty) — to make magnetic
  • Ukrainian: магнетизува́ти (mahnetyzuváty) — to make magnetic
  • Bulgarian: очаровам (očarovam) — to attract
  • Catalan: magnetitzar — to attract
  • Esperanto: magnetigi — to attract
  • Galician: magnetizar — to attract
  • Greek: μαγνητίζω (magnitízo) — to attract
  • Greek: σαγηνεύω (saginévo) — to attract
  • Italian: magnetizzare — to attract
  • Polish: przyciągać — to attract
  • Polish: przyciągnąć — to attract
  • Portuguese: magnetizar — to attract
  • Spanish: magnetizar — to attract
  • Ukrainian: магнетизува́ти (mahnetyzuváty) — to attract