conceptualize

verb

con·​cep·​tu·​al·​ize kən-ˈsep-chə-wə-ˌlīz 

-chü-ə-,

-chə-ˌlīz,

-shwə-ˌlīz

conceptualized; conceptualizing

transitive verb

: to form a concept of

conceptualize a new car design

especially : to interpret conceptually

conceptualizing reality

conceptualization

kən-ˌsep-chə-wə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-chü-ə-

-chə-lə-ˈzā-

-shwə-lə-ˈzā-

noun

conceptualizer

kən-ˈsep-chə-wə-ˌlī-zər 

-chü-ə-

-chə-ˌlī-

-shwə-ˌlī-

noun

Examples of conceptualize in a Sentence

She described her plans to me, but I found them hard to conceptualize.

He conceptualizes the family as an economic unit.

A programmer needs to analyze and conceptualize in order to solve problems.

Recent Examples on the Web

Over roughly six months, the zoo's sustainability and horticulture teams conceptualized the garden project. —Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2025

When helping Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite conceptualize their restaurant DanDan, Three Sixty was inspired by hole-in-the-wall restaurants tucked away in the urban alleys of Shanghai. —Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025

The role of the cynocephali tells us something about how medieval European thinkers conceptualized otherness and difference. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2025

Changing our approach to thinking about technical systems starts with conceptualizing contemporary enterprise security testing protocols. —Ruth Foxe Blader, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see conceptual

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for conceptualize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize