Catalyst
noun
A person or thing that makes a process happen faster or easier.
The president's speech was a catalyst for the revolution.
Often appears as...
- act as catalyst
- serve as catalyst
noun
A chemical substance that increases the speed of a chemical reaction without being used up in the reaction itself.
Catalysts are often used in the production of petroleum products.
Often appears as...
- chemical catalyst
- catalyst in reaction
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A person or thing that makes a process happen faster or easier.
The president's speech was a catalyst for the revolution.
Often appears as...
- act as catalyst
- serve as catalyst
noun
A chemical substance that increases the speed of a chemical reaction without being used up in the reaction itself.
Catalysts are often used in the production of petroleum products.
Often appears as...
- chemical catalyst
- catalyst in reaction
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Motivation Role
The term often implies that the catalyst motivated an already existing desire or movement.
Her relentless dedication served as a catalyst for the team's success.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Physical
The catalyst in non-chemical contexts isn't a physical object, but often an event or person.
The unexpected victory acted as a catalyst for the town's rejuvenation.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive Change
Catalysts in social contexts usually lead to positive changes or progress.
The new policy was a catalyst for widespread environmental improvements.
Pro Tip 1/3Motivation Role
The term often implies that the catalyst motivated an already existing desire or movement.
Her relentless dedication served as a catalyst for the team's success.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Physical
The catalyst in non-chemical contexts isn't a physical object, but often an event or person.
The unexpected victory acted as a catalyst for the town's rejuvenation.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive Change
Catalysts in social contexts usually lead to positive changes or progress.
The new policy was a catalyst for widespread environmental improvements.
Pro Tip 1/3Motivation Role
The term often implies that the catalyst motivated an already existing desire or movement.
Her relentless dedication served as a catalyst for the team's success.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Physical
The catalyst in non-chemical contexts isn't a physical object, but often an event or person.
The unexpected victory acted as a catalyst for the town's rejuvenation.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive Change
Catalysts in social contexts usually lead to positive changes or progress.
The new policy was a catalyst for widespread environmental improvements.
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Video examples
Everyday leadership -...
and yet we let people who have made our lives better walk around without knowing it and every single one of you every single one of you has been the catalyst for a lollipop moment you have made someone's life better by something that you said or that you did and if you think you have it think about all the hands that didn't go back up when I
Video examples
How to speed up chemical...
Then a matchmaker will help with this. The matchmaker makes it easier for a couple to get together, by coordinating the match. Our matchmaker is like a catalyst. Chemical catalysts function by lowering the activation energy -- in other words, by lowering the energy required to start a reaction.
Video examples
Drew Dudley: Everyday...
Yet we let people who have made our lives better walk around without knowing it. Every single one of you has been the catalyst for a lollipop moment. You've made someone's life better by something you said or did. If you think you haven't, think of all the hands that didn't go up when I asked.
Video examples
The mystery box PIPE JJ...
is I find myself drawn to infinite possibility, that sense of potential. And I realize that mystery is the catalyst for imagination. Now, it's not the most ground-breaking idea, but when I started to think that maybe there are times when mystery is more important than knowledge.
Video examples
Paul Bloom: Can...
or of theology or perhaps not even literature, but it does a great job of getting people to put themselves in the shoes of people they wouldn't otherwise be in the shoes of, put themselves in the shoes of slaves. And that could well have been a catalyst for great social change.
Video examples
How Quantum Biology...
inside living cells. Enzymes, those workhorses of life, the catalysts of chemical reactions -- enzymes are biomolecules that speed up chemical reactions in living cells, by many, many orders of magnitude. And it's always been a mystery how they do this. Well, it was discovered
Video examples
The Triumph and Tragedy...
the right to govern themselves and determine their own future but that moment of triumph was marred by one of the most violent forced migrations in human history known simply as partition lines drawn on a world map were the catalyst for the massacre of more than
Video examples
Is marijuana bad for...
would have appeared without marijuana use— whether marijuana use triggers it early, is a catalyst for a tipping point that wouldn’t have been crossed otherwise, or whether the reaction to marijuana is merely an indication of an underlying disorder.
Video examples
Paleo-oncology: The...
diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer but instead of cancer being the end-all be-all it became a catalyst it allowed my dreams to blossom into an idea rooted firmly in human biology culture and history and
Video examples
Averting the climate...
based on the short-term returns, you're going to get short-term decisions. A lot more to be said about that. Become a catalyst of change. Teach others, learn about it, talk about it. The movie is a movie version of the slideshow
Video examples
Everyday leadership -...
and yet we let people who have made our lives better walk around without knowing it and every single one of you every single one of you has been the catalyst for a lollipop moment you have made someone's life better by something that you said or that you did and if you think you have it think about all the hands that didn't go back up when I
Video examples
How to speed up chemical...
Then a matchmaker will help with this. The matchmaker makes it easier for a couple to get together, by coordinating the match. Our matchmaker is like a catalyst. Chemical catalysts function by lowering the activation energy -- in other words, by lowering the energy required to start a reaction.
Video examples
Drew Dudley: Everyday...
Yet we let people who have made our lives better walk around without knowing it. Every single one of you has been the catalyst for a lollipop moment. You've made someone's life better by something you said or did. If you think you haven't, think of all the hands that didn't go up when I asked.
Video examples
The mystery box PIPE JJ...
is I find myself drawn to infinite possibility, that sense of potential. And I realize that mystery is the catalyst for imagination. Now, it's not the most ground-breaking idea, but when I started to think that maybe there are times when mystery is more important than knowledge.
Video examples
Paul Bloom: Can...
or of theology or perhaps not even literature, but it does a great job of getting people to put themselves in the shoes of people they wouldn't otherwise be in the shoes of, put themselves in the shoes of slaves. And that could well have been a catalyst for great social change.
Video examples
How Quantum Biology...
inside living cells. Enzymes, those workhorses of life, the catalysts of chemical reactions -- enzymes are biomolecules that speed up chemical reactions in living cells, by many, many orders of magnitude. And it's always been a mystery how they do this. Well, it was discovered
Video examples
The Triumph and Tragedy...
the right to govern themselves and determine their own future but that moment of triumph was marred by one of the most violent forced migrations in human history known simply as partition lines drawn on a world map were the catalyst for the massacre of more than
Video examples
Is marijuana bad for...
would have appeared without marijuana use— whether marijuana use triggers it early, is a catalyst for a tipping point that wouldn’t have been crossed otherwise, or whether the reaction to marijuana is merely an indication of an underlying disorder.
Video examples
Paleo-oncology: The...
diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer but instead of cancer being the end-all be-all it became a catalyst it allowed my dreams to blossom into an idea rooted firmly in human biology culture and history and
Video examples
Averting the climate...
based on the short-term returns, you're going to get short-term decisions. A lot more to be said about that. Become a catalyst of change. Teach others, learn about it, talk about it. The movie is a movie version of the slideshow
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Theo Paphitis
British Businessman
Every successful high street needs a catalyst that starts making people want to come there, and independent shops can be that catalyst. If you want a new idea on the high street, you'll probably find it in an independent. I know I shouldn't say this, but new ideas rarely happen in chains. What we do is adopt it once we spot it in an independent.
Quote examples
Paul Allen
American Businessman
I choose optimism. I hope to be a catalyst not only by providing financial resources but also by fostering a sense of possibility: encouraging top experts to collaborate across disciplines, challenge conventional thinking, and figure out ways to overcome some of the world's hardest problems.
Quote examples
Pierre Nanterme
French Businessman
If I had to probably define and characterize my job, and maybe the job of a CEO today in this global world, highly volatile, uncertain, and when you need to transform is to be the catalyst for change. That's probably the definition I would give to my job. I'm the catalyst.
Quote examples
John M. Grunsfeld
American Astronaut
Our journey in going beyond our home planet is a human endeavor, and in the greatest tradition of exploration, past, present, and future spacefarers will continue to be enduring catalysts for inspiration in our quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
Quote examples
Gael Garcia Bernal
Mexican Actor
When it's good, cinema can be one of the most important things in a person's life. A film can be a catalyst for change. You witness this and it is an incredibly spiritual experience that I'd never lived before; well, maybe only in a football match.
Quote examples
Rosario Dawson
American Actress
You can only avoid responsibility for so long. The catalyst ended up being the law coming down and finally saying, 'You guys suspended judgement and that's fine, because we're not.
Quote examples
Frans van Houten
Dutch Businessman
Meaningful innovation can be an important catalyst in encouraging resilience in seniors, keeping them independent and engaged.
Quote examples
Rupert Murdoch
American Publisher
I would like to be remembered, if I am remembered at all, as being a catalyst for change in the world, change for good.
Quote examples
Tony Evans
Peace, unity, love, and nonviolence should be our rallying cry and the catalyst for change in our nation.
Quote examples
Florentijn Hofman
Dutch Artist
I've always said the rubber duck is a yellow catalyst.
Quote examples
Theo Paphitis
British Businessman
Every successful high street needs a catalyst that starts making people want to come there, and independent shops can be that catalyst. If you want a new idea on the high street, you'll probably find it in an independent. I know I shouldn't say this, but new ideas rarely happen in chains. What we do is adopt it once we spot it in an independent.
Quote examples
Paul Allen
American Businessman
I choose optimism. I hope to be a catalyst not only by providing financial resources but also by fostering a sense of possibility: encouraging top experts to collaborate across disciplines, challenge conventional thinking, and figure out ways to overcome some of the world's hardest problems.
Quote examples
Pierre Nanterme
French Businessman
If I had to probably define and characterize my job, and maybe the job of a CEO today in this global world, highly volatile, uncertain, and when you need to transform is to be the catalyst for change. That's probably the definition I would give to my job. I'm the catalyst.
Quote examples
John M. Grunsfeld
American Astronaut
Our journey in going beyond our home planet is a human endeavor, and in the greatest tradition of exploration, past, present, and future spacefarers will continue to be enduring catalysts for inspiration in our quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
Quote examples
Gael Garcia Bernal
Mexican Actor
When it's good, cinema can be one of the most important things in a person's life. A film can be a catalyst for change. You witness this and it is an incredibly spiritual experience that I'd never lived before; well, maybe only in a football match.
Quote examples
Rosario Dawson
American Actress
You can only avoid responsibility for so long. The catalyst ended up being the law coming down and finally saying, 'You guys suspended judgement and that's fine, because we're not.
Quote examples
Frans van Houten
Dutch Businessman
Meaningful innovation can be an important catalyst in encouraging resilience in seniors, keeping them independent and engaged.
Quote examples
Rupert Murdoch
American Publisher
I would like to be remembered, if I am remembered at all, as being a catalyst for change in the world, change for good.
Quote examples
Tony Evans
Peace, unity, love, and nonviolence should be our rallying cry and the catalyst for change in our nation.
Quote examples
Florentijn Hofman
Dutch Artist
I've always said the rubber duck is a yellow catalyst.
Example 1 of 10
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