revolutionize

verb

rev·​o·​lu·​tion·​ize ˌre-və-ˈlü-shə-ˌnīz 

revolutionized; revolutionizing

transitive verb

1

: to overthrow the established government of

2

: to imbue with revolutionary doctrines

3

: to change fundamentally or completely

revolutionize an industry

intransitive verb

: to engage in revolution

revolutionizer noun

Examples of revolutionize in a Sentence

The invention of the airplane revolutionized travel.

This new drug may revolutionize cancer treatment.

This discovery has revolutionized our understanding of how the human brain works.

Recent Examples on the Web

Few has earned his rightful place in Springfield by revolutionizing the concept of a power school, not only leading the Zags to 27 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances but at least one tourney win in 24 of them. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026

Her team's research on cortisol and brain function has revolutionized our understanding and treatment of PTSD worldwide. —Big Think, 3 Apr. 2026

Like the streaming service that revolutionized how the world watches movies, insurers negotiated a subscription payment to manufacturers in exchange for unlimited access to the cure. —Michael Rose, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026

But only a small number of substances can be said to have fundamentally revolutionized medicine. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

revolution + -ize

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for revolutionize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise

Kids Definition

revolutionize

verb

rev·​o·​lu·​tion·​ize ˌrev-ə-ˈlü-shə-ˌnīz 

revolutionized; revolutionizing

1

: to overthrow the established government of

2

: to cause a person to become a revolutionist

3

: to change greatly or completely

an invention that revolutionized the industry

revolutionizer noun