internalize

verb

in·​ter·​nal·​ize in-ˈtər-nə-ˌlīz 

internalized; internalizing

transitive verb

: to give a subjective character to

specifically : to incorporate (values, patterns of culture, etc.) within the self as conscious or subconscious guiding principles through learning or socialization

internalization

in-ˌtər-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of internalize in a Sentence

They have internalized their parents' values.

Recent Examples on the Web

The ability to internalize information and quickly translate it on the field is one of the most important traits for a quarterback. —Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026

The actor had mere minutes to internalize it all before shooting again. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026

Releasing that control can soften the tendency to internalize life’s unpredictability as a personal failure, Jacobsen says—and also weaken the power that anxiety in your 30s holds over you. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 20 Feb. 2026

What interested me was the silence that follows – the way young people internalize what happens to them, especially in environments where difficult experiences are quickly normalized or brushed aside. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for internalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Medical Definition

internalize

transitive verb

in·​ter·​nal·​ize

variants or chiefly British internalise

in-ˈtərn-ᵊl-ˌīz 

internalized or chiefly British internalised; internalizing or chiefly British internalising

: to give a subjective character to

specifically : to incorporate (as values or patterns of culture) within the self as conscious or subconscious guiding principles through learning or socialization

internalization noun

or chiefly British internalisation

-ˌtərn-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən