1. breaks down food or other substances in the body to produce energy and growth
Usage: third person singular present tense of metabolize
2. processes or breaks down a drug or chemical substance in the body
Usage: medical context

Examples

• The liver metabolizes alcohol at a steady rate.
• Her body metabolizes carbohydrates very efficiently.
• The medication metabolizes quickly in most patients.
• Exercise helps the body metabolize fat more effectively.
• The enzyme metabolizes the protein into amino acids.
• His slow metabolism means he metabolizes food gradually.