civilize

verb

civ·i·lize | \ ˈsi-və-ˌlīz

civilized; civilizing

Definition of civilize

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

2a : educate, refine

b : socialize sense 1

intransitive verb

: to acquire the customs and amenities of a civil community

Other Words from civilize Example Sentences Learn More about civilize

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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 on the Web

Schools are usually the last chance to civilize children if their family has failed to do so. — WSJ, "Notable & Quotable: School Discipline," 21 Dec. 2018 Crusoe keeps Friday as a servant, implying that the best way to civilize a savage is to subordinate him. — Pallavi Kottamasu, BostonGlobe.com, "Were cannibals really so bad?," 2 June 2018 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 In its little, domestic world, writing civilized the middle-class home. Williams avoids Jane Austen, on the reasonable ground that a lot has already been done on her. — John Sutherland, New York Times, "We Are What We Read," 2 Jan. 2018 The legislation reads like a 19th century missionary enterprise, a colonial experiment to civilize the brown folks. — Amro Ali, Time, "Denmark’s “Ghetto” Policies Are an Ominous Sign That Liberal Europe Is Starting to Unravel at the Seams," 3 July 2018 The city and the waterfront corporation need to take a more active role in civilizing Delaware Avenue. — Inga Saffron, Philly.com, "Will a new riverfront concert venue close the gap between Fishtown and the Delaware - or widen it?," 28 June 2018 By 1912, the vast majority of states had adopted practices intended to civilize voting. — Kate Keller, Smithsonian, "Why Are There Laws That Restrict What People Can Wear to the Polls?," 15 June 2018 Down a flight of stairs, away from the cars, the riverwalk was designed as a refuge from the hubbub, a civilizing force in the urban push and jangle. — Mary Schmich, chicagotribune.com, "Let's not wreck our riverwalk by letting it become a waterfront frat party," 17 May 2018

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.