MEANING
1. To stir people into sudden action or response through shock, urgency, or strong emotion.
2. To coat iron or steel with zinc, usually to protect it from corrosion.
Use it for
Use for a shock or appeal that mobilizes people.Show an event or speech abruptly energizing a person or group.
Words that belong together
- galvanize a crowd
- galvanize into action
- galvanize support
- galvanize iron
- galvanized steel
- galvanizing process
On the page
The warning galvanized the volunteers into searching the flooded lanes.
The workshop galvanized the bracket before installing it outdoors.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- galvanize
- Past tense
- galvanized
- Past participle
- galvanized
- Present participle
- galvanizing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- galvanize
- Present continuous
- am/is/are galvanizing
- Present perfect
- have/has galvanized
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been galvanizing
- Past
- galvanized
- Past continuous
- was/were galvanizing
- Past perfect
- had galvanized
- Past perfect continuous
- had been galvanizing
- Future
- will galvanize
- Future continuous
- will be galvanizing
- Future perfect
- will have galvanized
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been galvanizing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
The figurative sense suggests a sudden jolt from inaction; US spelling uses -ize, while British English also uses galvanise. Sense 2: This technical sense concerns a protective zinc coating, not emotional motivation.
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