col·o·nize
| \ ˈkä-lə-ˌnīz
\
\
colonized; colonizing
Definition of colonize
1a
: to establish a colony in or on or of
colonize an island
b
: to establish in a colony
the rights of colonized people
2
: to send illegal or irregularly qualified voters into
colonizing doubtful districts
3
: to infiltrate with usually subversive militants for propaganda and strategy reasons
colonize industries
: to make or establish a colony : settle
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Examples of colonize in a Sentence
The area was colonized in the 18th century.
Weeds quickly colonized the field.
The island had been colonized by plants and animals.
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Recent Examples on the Web
In the late 16th century, frustrated by continuing native Irish resistance, Protestant England implemented an aggressive plan to fully colonize Ireland and stamp out Irish Catholicism.
—
James Waller, The Conversation, 12 Apr. 2021
The complexes were built by Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century and illustrate the Spanish Crown's efforts to colonize, evangelize and defend the northern frontier of New Spain.
—
Liz Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2021
So if your towels stay damp and contain your skin cells, then these microbes can colonize, according to Dr. Meschke.
—
Jessica Toscano, SELF, 13 May 2021
But the notion of the western frontier offering limitless opportunity to colonize—framed as limitless freedom, resources, and promise of transformation—is less attractive when you are raised at its terminus.
—
Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2021
Suddenly humans can access and colonize space outside of our Solar System.
—
Kate Cox, Ars Technica, 11 Dec. 2020
In one segment, Mr. Musk, who longs to colonize Mars, issued commands to a Mars mission that relied on a slacker character played by Pete Davidson.
—
John Jurgensen, WSJ, 9 May 2021
In between plotting to colonize Mars, hawking vacations in space, promoting the satirical cryptocurrency Dogecoin, and designing near-supersonic capsules as new-age subways, Musk will spend this Saturday hosting Saturday Night Live.
—
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 7 May 2021
So to suppress their feelings and keep them on task, the young and attractive crew of the Humanitas, a deep-space mission to colonize a habitable planet to replace the dying Earth, are drugged without their knowledge.
—
Jim Kiest, San Antonio Express-News, 5 May 2021
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'colonize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Last Updated
18 Jun 2021
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“Colonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonize. Accessed 18 Jun. 2021.
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More Definitions for colonize
colonize
verb
English Language Learners Definition of colonize
: to create a colony in or on (a place) : to take control of (an area) and send people to live there
: to move into and live in (a place) as a new type of plant or animal
See the full definition for colonize in the English Language Learners Dictionary
colonize
verb
col·o·nize
| \ ˈkä-lə-ˌnīz
\
\
colonized; colonizing
Kids Definition of colonize
1
: to establish a colony in or on
2
: to settle in a colony
colonize
verb
col·o·nize
| \ ˈkäl-ə-ˌnīz
\
\
colonized; colonizing
Medical Definition of colonize
1
: to establish a colony in or on
the parasitic roundworms…have succeeded in colonizing a great variety of hosts— W. H. Dowdeswell
2
: to isolate in supervised groups
of microorganisms
: to become established in a habitat (as a host or a wound)
these bacteria in turn colonize in other parts of the body— R. A. Runnells
Other Words from colonize
colonization
\
ˌkäl-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən
\
noun
\
noun
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Time Traveler for colonize
The first known use of colonize was in 1622
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