localize

verb

lo·​cal·​ize ˈlō-kə-ˌlīz 

localized; localizing

transitive verb

1

: to make local : orient locally

2

: to assign to or keep within a definite locality

intransitive verb

: to accumulate in or be restricted to a specific or limited area

an infection that localizes in the ear

localizability

ˌlō-kə-ˌlī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

localizable

ˈlō-kə-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

adjective

localization

ˌlō-kə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of localize in a Sentence

Doctors are trying to localize the infection by using antibiotics.

The computer technician was able to localize the fault quickly.

Recent Examples on the Web

The cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes and appeared to be localized. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 28 June 2026

But those movements are typically localized to areas near the center of the quake, Park says. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 18 June 2026

Some damage is possible and the impact should be relatively localized. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026

And the mess wasn’t just localized to the trash can—there were husks everywhere, like rose petals tossed by a rambunctious 4-year-old flower girl thrilled to be at her first wedding. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for localize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

localize

verb

lo·​cal·​ize ˈlō-kə-ˌlīz 

localized; localizing

1

: to assign to or keep in a definite place or locality

2

: to be restricted to or accumulate in a limited area

pain localized in a joint

localization

ˌlō-kə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

localize

verb

lo·​cal·​ize

variants also British localise

ˈlō-kə-ˌlīz 

localized also British localised; localizing also British localising

transitive verb

: to make local

especially : to fix in or confine to a definite place or part

hot applications helped to localize the infection

intransitive verb

: to accumulate in or be restricted to a specific or limited area

this parasite localizes and grows in the muscle

—Morris Fishbein