globalize

verb glob·al·ize \ ˈglō-bə-ˌlīz \

Updated on: 7 Apr 2018

Definition of globalize

globalized; globalizing

transitive verb

: to make global; especially : to make worldwide in scope or application

globalize a company's operations

See globalize defined for English-language learners

Examples of globalize in a Sentence

The economy has become globalized.
The company is planning to globalize.

Recent Examples of globalize from the Web

There’s some dispute over whether in-game action would help the league globalize the game.

— albert breer, SI.com, "Legal Sports Gambling is Coming, and the NFL Is Getting Ready to Capitalize (Of Course It Is)," 29 Mar. 2018
The legal frameworks of virtual citizenship invert and globalize the logic of the special economic zone—a geographical space of exception, where the usual rules of state and finance don’t apply.

— james bridle, The Atlantic, "The Rise of Virtual Citizenship," 21 Feb. 2018
Some analysts argue that while the military and conservative forces may now seem entrenched, perpetual military rule is impossible in today’s globalized Thailand where the spread of information through social media is transforming society.

— denis d. gray, The Seattle Times, "Thai junta boss eyes staying on with little stopping him," 15 Jan. 2018
One key lever Spotify is pulling to gain influence over the competition is its wider ambition to globalize local trends, which has already proven successful with Latin and K-pop music.

— cherie hu, Billboard, "With Open House and New Hires, Spotify Shows Drive to Win Nashville's Support," 22 Dec. 2017
An allegory about the contradictions of a world that is both thoroughly globalized and startlingly unequal, Hamid’s book directs our attention to that question of luck: the degree to which the places where we are born shape our destinies.

— isaac chotiner, Slate Magazine, "Mohsin Hamid’s new novel is a missed opportunity to make refugee characters seem vivid, human, and real.," 6 Mar. 2017
If anything, however, the situation in Panchkula illustrates how intractable the guru world remains in India’s globalizing social and political circles.

— kyle swenson, Washington Post, "India’s ‘guru of bling’ is convicted of raping two followers. After the verdict, deadly violence breaks out.," 25 Aug. 2017
One was the development of the jpeg, expediting and globalizing the viewing of work, compared to the method of sending physical slides via post.

— kyle brazzel, Vogue, "State of the Art," 11 Aug. 2017
This is only a problem when a service is globalized, built to work for billions of people all at once.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "The Nomad Who’s Exploding the Internet Into Pieces," 22 May 2017

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

First Known Use of globalize

1937

in the meaning defined above

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GLOBALIZE Defined for English Language Learners

globalize

verb

Definition of globalize for English Language Learners

: to make (something) cover, involve, or affect the entire world
of a business : to begin to operate throughout the world

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