Quizzes & Games
Word of the Day
Video
New Words
My Favorites
View your list of saved words.
(You can log in using Facebook.)

colonize

colonize

verb

Definition of COLONIZE

to supply with inhabitants <citizens who were sent abroad to colonize the conquered lands>

Synonyms colonize, people, populate

Related Words inhabit; move (to), relocate (to)

Antonyms depopulate, unpeople

Learn More About

Dictionary: Definition of "colonize"

Spanish Central Translation: "colonize" in Spanish

Medical Dictionary: Definition of "colonize"

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up colonize? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Spell It

The commonly misspelled words quiz

Hear It, Spell It »

The Merriam-Webster
Unabridged Dictionary

Online access to a
legendary resource
Log In or Sign Up »

Learning English?
We can help.

Visit our free site designed
especially for learners and
teachers of English
LearnersDictionary.com »

Our Dictionary,
On Your Devices

Merriam-Webster,
With Voice Search
Get the Free Apps! »

New Words
Added for 2014

America's best-selling
dictionary updated for 2014!
New words include hashtag,
steampunk, and selfie.
Learn More »

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter »

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook »

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more. See all »

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary » WordCentral for Kids »

Learner's ESL Dictionary » Visual Dictionary »

Spanish Central »

Browse the Dictionary

Browse the Thesaurus

Browse the Spanish-English Dictionary

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Browse the Medical Dictionary

Browse the Concise Encyclopedia