civilize

play

verb civ·i·lize \ ˈsi-və-ˌlīz \

Definition of civilize

civilized; civilizing

transitive verb

1 :to cause to develop out of a primitive state; especially :to bring to a technically advanced and rationally ordered stage of cultural development

2 a :educate, refine

b :socialize 1

intransitive verb

:to acquire the customs and amenities of a civil community

—

civilizer

noun

See civilize defined for English-language learners

See civilize defined for kids

Examples of civilize in a Sentence

Her parents hoped that boarding school might civilize her some.
a teacher who had a civilizing influence on the students
He is credited with civilizing the treatment of people with mental illnesses.
efforts to civilize the health-care system
They believed it was their duty to civilize the native people.

Recent Examples of civilize from the Web

This project - relatively small in comparison to that of building the two new bridges - deserves to be celebrated locally and to serve as a national example of how to civilize the interstates in cities.

— steven litt, cleveland.com, "ODOT's new Towpath Trail segment below Inner Belt bridges heals urban scar (photos, video)," 13 Aug. 2017
This depiction of Ivanka and Melania as civilizing forces on Trump—a ridiculous assertion disproven over and again—is in part why so many women voted for a raving misogynist in the first place.

— jessica valenti, Marie Claire, "We're Missing the Point with Melania Trump," 1 June 2017
Mr. Ricoeur’s work, the newspaper Le Monde most recently pointed out, is shot through with apparent paradoxes, which in reality expressed a kind of civilizing wish to find a middle ground.

— adam nossiter, New York Times, "Macron Quickly Assumes a Presidential Attitude," 30 May 2017
Rise bloody, maybe not too late For having first to civilize a space Wherein to play your violin with grace.

— adam davidson, The New Yorker, "Making Art in a Time of Rage," 8 Feb. 2017
Rise bloody, maybe not too late For having first to civilize a space Wherein to play your violin with grace.

— adam davidson, The New Yorker, "Making Art in a Time of Rage," 8 Feb. 2017
The island would magically civilize us into our best possible versions of ourselves.

— brie dyas, House Beautiful, "I Hate My Kitchen Island — And Think It's Useless," 18 Nov. 2016
Americans civilize quite prolifically: outhouses in Arizona’s Canyon DeChelly National Park; a wooden walkway weaving through Montana’s Glacier National Park.

— laura mallonee, WIRED, "The Weird Ways Americans Try to Make the Wilderness Comfy," 25 July 2016
Even Bogle noticed how eccentrically civilized the country felt: spacious and calm without being actually empty.

— lawrence osborne, Town & Country, "Why Everyone Is Traveling to Bhutan," 30 Mar. 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'civilize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of civilize

1595

CIVILIZE Defined for English Language Learners

civilize

play

verb

Definition of civilize for English Language Learners

: to teach (a person or group of people) to behave in a way that you think is more polite and gentle
: to make (something) more gentle, fair, reasonable, etc.
: to cause (a group of people) to have a more highly organized and modern way of living

CIVILIZE Defined for Kids

civilize

play

verb civ·i·lize \ ˈsi-və-ˌlīz \

Definition of civilize for Students

civilized; civilizing

:to cause to have a more advanced or modern way of living

Learn More about civilize

See words that rhyme with civilize Spanish Central: Translation of civilize Nglish: Translation of civilize for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of civilize for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

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

show

civilize

Definition of civilize

civilizer

Examples of civilize in a Sentence

Recent Examples of civilize from the Web

First Known Use of civilize

CIVILIZE Defined for English Language Learners

civilize

Definition of civilize for English Language Learners

CIVILIZE Defined for Kids

civilize

Definition of civilize for Students

Learn More about civilize

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

toothsome

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Let's Talk 'Tea'

8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Add Diction

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066

civilize

Definition of civilize

civilizer

From the M-W Editors

Examples of civilize in a Sentence

Recent Examples of civilize from the Web

First Known Use of civilize

Phrases Related to CIVILIZE

Related Phrases

CIVILIZE Defined for English Language Learners

civilize

Definition of civilize for English Language Learners

CIVILIZE Defined for Kids

civilize

Definition of civilize for Students

Learn More about civilize

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066