anabolism

A1N1A1B3O1L1I1S1M3
/əˈnæ.bəˌlɪ.zəm/

noun

The constructive metabolism of the body, as distinguished from catabolism.

Similar
constructive metabolism
Opposite
catabolism
OriginAncient Greek βάλλω (bállō) ← Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō ← Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- →
RareScrabble 13
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounanabolism (usually uncountable, plural anabolisms)

plural anabolisms

  1. uncountableusuallyThe constructive metabolism of the body, as distinguished from catabolism.

    We used to think bodybuilding was all about anabolism by way of turning on testosterone and growth hormone secretion.

    2008, Carlon M. Colker, Extreme Muscle Enhancement, 3rd edition, pages 13–14

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances (e.g., living tissue) from simpler ones together with the storage of energy

Similar
constructive metabolism
Opposite
catabolism
Broader
assimilationabsorption

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂en-
  2. Proto-Hellenic*aná
  3. Ancient Greekᾰ̓νᾰ́ (ănắ)
  4. Ancient Greekἀνα- (ana-)
  5. Proto-Indo-European*gʷelH-
  6. Proto-Hellenic*gʷəlnō
  7. Ancient Greekβάλλω (bállō)
  8. Englishanabolism

From Ancient Greek ἀνα- (ana-, “up”) + βάλλω (bállō, “I throw”) + -ism. Formed in analogy with metabolism.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic عَمَلِيَّة التَّمْثِيلِ الْغِذَائِي
  • عَمَلِيَّة التَّمْثِيلِ الْغِذَائِيthe constructive metabolism of the body
Catalan anabolisme
  • anabolismethe constructive metabolism of the body
Chinese Mandarin 同化作用
  • 同化作用 (tónghuà zuòyòng)the constructive metabolism of the body
Czech anabolismus
  • anabolismusthe constructive metabolism of the body
Danish anabolisme
  • anabolismethe constructive metabolism of the body
Dutch anabolisme
  • anabolismethe constructive metabolism of the body
Esperanto anabolo
  • anabolothe constructive metabolism of the body
Estonian anabolism
  • anabolismthe constructive metabolism of the body
Finnish rakennusaineenvaihdunta, anabolia
  • rakennusaineenvaihduntathe constructive metabolism of the body
  • anaboliathe constructive metabolism of the body
French anabolisme
  • anabolismethe constructive metabolism of the body
German Anabolismus
  • Anabolismusthe constructive metabolism of the body
Greek αναβολισμός
  • αναβολισμός (anavolismós)the constructive metabolism of the body
Hungarian anabolizmus, asszimiláció
  • anabolizmusthe constructive metabolism of the body
  • asszimilációthe constructive metabolism of the body
Indonesian anabolisme
  • anabolismethe constructive metabolism of the body
Irish borrshó, anabalacht
  • borrshóthe constructive metabolism of the body
  • anabalachtthe constructive metabolism of the body
Italian anabolismo
  • anabolismothe constructive metabolism of the body
Japanese 同化, 同化作用
  • 同化 (dōka)the constructive metabolism of the body
  • 同化作用 (dōka sayō)the constructive metabolism of the body
Korean 합성대사
  • 합성대사 (hapseongdaesa)the constructive metabolism of the body
Māori whakapetohanga pūngao
  • whakapetohanga pūngaothe constructive metabolism of the body
Norwegian anabolisme
  • anabolismethe constructive metabolism of the body
Persian فراگشت
  • فراگشتthe constructive metabolism of the body
Polish anabolizm
  • anabolizmthe constructive metabolism of the body
Portuguese anabolismo
  • anabolismothe constructive metabolism of the body
Russian анаболи́зм
  • анаболи́зм (anabolízm)the constructive metabolism of the body
Slovak anabolizmus
  • anabolizmusthe constructive metabolism of the body
Spanish anabolismo
  • anabolismothe constructive metabolism of the body
Swedish anabolism
  • anabolismthe constructive metabolism of the body
Tagalog kapyari
  • kapyarithe constructive metabolism of the body
Thai กระบวนการสร้าง
  • กระบวนการสร้าง (gràbuan gaan sâang)the constructive metabolism of the body
Cite this entry
APA

anabolism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anabolism

MLA

“anabolism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anabolism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anabolism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anabolism.

Source: anabolism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.