caramelize
verb
car·a·mel·ize
ˈkär-mə-ˌlīz 
ˈker-ə-mə-,
ˈka-rə-mə-
caramelized; caramelizing
1
transitive
: to subject (sugar or the sugar content of a food) to caramelization : to change into caramel (see caramel sense 1) by heating at high temperature
… flan bathed in caramelized sugar and topped with whipped cream …—
Penelope Casas
Penelope CasasAt a restaurant, some unlucky prep cook gets to peel, slice, and caramelize bags of onions in the morning.—Stephanie Alleyne
Stephanie Alleyne2
intransitive
: to change to caramel
Fructose begins to rapidly caramelize at around 200 degrees …—Matthew Card
: to undergo caramelization
Matthew CardThese sweet potatoes caramelize slightly in the oven, which gives them a sweet crunch as their flesh remains creamy.—Lesley Porcelli
Lesley PorcelliExamples of caramelize in a Sentence
The onions will take five minutes to caramelize.
Caramelize two cups of sugar.
Continue stirring until the sugar caramelizes.
Recent Examples on the Web
The family subsequently founded and later sold Smashburger, which improved on the fast-food hamburger just a bit by caramelizing its beef.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2025
It’s got sweet, roasty notes from caramelizing onions with tomato paste and depth from chipotle, which all find balance thanks to the subtle bite of apple cider vinegar.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
Cook meatballs until golden and caramelized on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025
Notes of vanilla, caramelized sugar, and ripe fruit are complemented by gentle spice and a smooth, lingering finish.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caramelize
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Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2025
It’s got sweet, roasty notes from caramelizing onions with tomato paste and depth from chipotle, which all find balance thanks to the subtle bite of apple cider vinegar.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
Cook meatballs until golden and caramelized on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025
Notes of vanilla, caramelized sugar, and ripe fruit are complemented by gentle spice and a smooth, lingering finish.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caramelize
Cite this Entry
“Caramelize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caramelize. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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