internationalize

verb

in·​ter·​na·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin-tər-ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz 

internationalized; internationalizing; internationalizes

transitive verb

: to make international

also : to place under international control

a proposal to internationalize the city

internationalization

ˌin-tər-ˌna-sh(ə-)nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of internationalize in a Sentence

a business that has begun to internationalize

Recent Examples on the Web

King's last words to him were about the need to institutionalize and internationalize the nonviolence movement. —CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

King’s last words to him were about the need to institutionalize and internationalize the nonviolence movement. —ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026

What began as an effort to internationalize the renminbi morphed into a de-dollarization campaign, which picked up speed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the ensuing Western sanctions. —Lael Brainard, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025

The acquisition comes as the global demand for American football grows as the sport internationalizes with NFL games now routinely played abroad. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for internationalize

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

Kids Definition

internationalize

verb

in·​ter·​na·​tion·​al·​ize -ˈnash-nəl-ˌīz 

-ən-ᵊl-

: to make international

internationalized the airport

internationalization

-ˌnash-nəl-ə-ˈzā-shən 

-ən-ᵊl-

noun