metastasize

verb

me·​tas·​ta·​size mə-ˈta-stə-ˌsīz How to pronounce metastasize (audio)
metastasized; metastasizing

intransitive verb

: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis
… died of lung cancer which had metastasized throughout his body.—G. P. Elliott

Examples of metastasize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But surprisingly, that anger has metastasized into actual antisemitism — not merely opposition to Israel’s government, but blaming Jewish Americans and contributing to antisemitic incidents, with physical assaults reaching record levels. — Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which metastasized to her bones. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 Joe’s wife Jill Biden previously told Craig Melvin that the 83-year-old’s cancer had metastasized to his bones during a Today show interview on June 1. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 Aug. 2026 The couple had been together for only about two years when Di Cenzo learned her cancer had metastasized. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for metastasize

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metastasize was in 1907

Rhymes for metastasize

See All Rhymes for metastasize

Browse Nearby Words

metastasis
metastasize
metasternal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Metastasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metastasize. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

metastasize

verb
me·​tas·​ta·​size mə-ˈtas-tə-ˌsīz How to pronounce metastasize (audio)
: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis

Medical Definition

metastasize

intransitive verb
me·​tas·​ta·​size
variants also British metastasise
mə-ˈtas-tə-ˌsīz How to pronounce metastasize (audio)
metastasized also British metastasised; metastasizing also British metastasising
: to spread by metastasis
… all ten were primary brain cancers; that is, they had originated in the brain, and not metastasized there from elsewhere in the body.—Paul Brodeur, The New Yorker
metastasization noun
also British metastasisation
mə-ˌtas-tə-sə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce metastasize (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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