depolarize
verb
de·po·lar·ize
(ˌ)dē-ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 
depolarized; depolarizing; depolarizes
1
: to cause to become partially or wholly unpolarized
2
: to prevent or remove polarization of (something, such as a particle (see particle sense 3) or dry cell)
After all, if a positive muon managed to capture one of the many electrons that are free to move about in graphite, the electron could easily depolarize (mess up the spin of) the muon so that they would not all be doing the same thing in lockstep.—
Leon Lederman et al.
Leon Lederman et al.3
physiology
: to cause (a muscle or nerve cell) to undergo depolarization
In order to establish whether or not this type of capacitor discharge would depolarize the entire heart, it was tested as a cardiac defibrillator.—Bernard Lown et al.
Bernard Lown et al.
physiology
: to undergo depolarization
Smooth muscle cells in small arteries depolarize and contract in response to increased intravascular pressure.—Joseph E. Brayden and Mark T. Nelson
Joseph E. Brayden and Mark T. NelsonExamples of depolarize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
America needs a centrist who will depolarize the nation.
—WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023
So at rest, they are depolarized in general at about minus 80 millivolts or minus 75 millivolts.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2023
His results have very large implications for how to depolarize an array of scientific issues-and how to communicate about controversial science in general.
—Chris Mooney, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2011
The larger issue -- and opportunity -- is to depolarize associations of faith with one political party.
—John Avlon, CNN, 29 Oct. 2021
There’s two magnets that are rotating back and forth and creates an electric current, which can travel through the skull a few centimeters to the upper layers of the cortex and depolarize or activate brain activate there.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Oct. 2021
Absent a radical shift in the right’s priorities, the only way to depolarize our institutions is to win big against those who want to keep them undemocratic.
—Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 19 May 2020
Some of the drugs that can be used to depolarize cells are already approved for humans.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 26 May 2017
Some of the drugs that can be used to depolarize cells are already approved for humans.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 26 May 2017
WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023
So at rest, they are depolarized in general at about minus 80 millivolts or minus 75 millivolts.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2023
His results have very large implications for how to depolarize an array of scientific issues-and how to communicate about controversial science in general.
—Chris Mooney, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2011
The larger issue -- and opportunity -- is to depolarize associations of faith with one political party.
—John Avlon, CNN, 29 Oct. 2021
There’s two magnets that are rotating back and forth and creates an electric current, which can travel through the skull a few centimeters to the upper layers of the cortex and depolarize or activate brain activate there.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Oct. 2021
Absent a radical shift in the right’s priorities, the only way to depolarize our institutions is to win big against those who want to keep them undemocratic.
—Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 19 May 2020
Some of the drugs that can be used to depolarize cells are already approved for humans.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 26 May 2017
Some of the drugs that can be used to depolarize cells are already approved for humans.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 26 May 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'depolarize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near depolarize
Cite this Entry
“Depolarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depolarize. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
depolarize
verb
de·po·lar·ize
variants
or British depolarise
depolarized or British depolarised; depolarizing or British depolarising
: to cause (a muscle or nerve cell) to undergo depolarization
In order to establish whether or not this type of capacitor discharge would depolarize the entire heart, it was tested as a cardiac defibrillator.—Bernard Lown et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association
Bernard Lown et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association
: to undergo depolarization
Smooth muscle cells in small arteries depolarize and contract in response to increased intravascular pressure.—Joseph E. Brayden and Mark T. Nelson, Science
Joseph E. Brayden and Mark T. Nelson, ScienceLove words? Need even more definitions?
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