internalize

[ in-tur-nl-ahyz ]
See synonyms for internalize on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),in·ter·nal·ized, in·ter·nal·iz·ing.
  1. to incorporate (the cultural values, mores, motives, etc., of another or of a group), as through learning, socialization, or identification.

  2. to make subjective or give a subjective character to.

  1. Linguistics. to acquire (a linguistic rule, structure, etc.) as part of one's language competence.

Origin of internalize

1
First recorded in 1940–45; internal + -ize
  • Also especially British, in·ter·nal·ise .

Other words from internalize

  • in·ter·nal·i·za·tion [in-tur-nl-ahy-zey-shuhn] /ɪnˌtɜr nl aɪˈzeɪ ʃən/ especially British, in·ter·nal·i·sa·tion, noun
  • qua·si-in·ter·nal·ized; especially British, qua·si-in·ter·nal·ised, adjective
  • sem·i-in·ter·nal·ized; especially British, sem·i-in·ter·nal·ised, adjective
  • un·in·ter·nal·ized; especially British, un·in·ter·nal·ised, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use internalize in a sentence

  • Raised in this way, people later in life will tend to link their self-worth to internalized parental standards.

  • His world becoming subjective more and more each day as he internalized, objective existence became shadowy and unsatisfying.

    Edgar Saltus: The Man | Marie Saltus

British Dictionary definitions for internalize

internalize

internalise

/ (ɪnˈtɜːnəˌlaɪz) /


verb
  1. (tr) psychol sociol to make internal, esp to incorporate within oneself (values, attitudes, etc) through learning or socialization: Also: interiorize Compare introject

Derived forms of internalize

  • internalization or internalisation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012