urbanize

[ ur-buh-nahyz ]
See synonyms for: urbanizeurbanized on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ur·ban·ized, ur·ban·iz·ing.
  1. to make or cause to become urban, as a locality.

Origin of urbanize

1
First recorded in 1635–45; urban + -ize
  • Also especially British, ur·ban·ise .

Other words from urbanize

  • ur·ban·i·za·tion, noun
  • non·ur·ban·ized, adjective
  • o·ver·ur·ban·ize, verb, o·ver·ur·ban·ized, o·ver·ur·ban·iz·ing.
  • un·ur·ban·ized, adjective

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

How to use urbanize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for urbanize

urbanize

urbanise

/ (ˈɜːbəˌnaɪz) /


verb(tr)
  1. (usually passive)

    • to make (esp a predominantly rural area or country) more industrialized and urban

    • to cause the migration of an increasing proportion of (rural dwellers) into cities

Derived forms of urbanize

  • urbanization or urbanisation, 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