localize

verb

lo·​cal·​ize ˈlō-kə-ˌlīz 

localized; localizing

transitive verb

1

: to make local : orient locally

2

: to assign to or keep within a definite locality

intransitive verb

: to accumulate in or be restricted to a specific or limited area

an infection that localizes in the ear

localizability

ˌlō-kə-ˌlī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

localizable

ˈlō-kə-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

adjective

localization

ˌlō-kə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of localize in a Sentence

Doctors are trying to localize the infection by using antibiotics.

The computer technician was able to localize the fault quickly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Roku is available in 15 countries, but a stab at localizing the backgrounds stayed on the drawing board. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026

Still, if the bubble does pop, most of the damage will be localized to investors unless major institutions are borrowing money to try to capitalize on the boom. — HubSpot, 31 July 2026

Vas said Europe needs to localize high-value components, particularly batteries and power electronics. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Flooding can be very localized, and two houses 100 meters apart from each other can be affected very differently depending on the terrain, and a general warning just cannot account for those factors. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for localize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

localize

verb

lo·​cal·​ize ˈlō-kə-ˌlīz 

localized; localizing

1

: to assign to or keep in a definite place or locality

2

: to be restricted to or accumulate in a limited area

pain localized in a joint

localization

ˌlō-kə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

localize

verb

lo·​cal·​ize

variants also British localise

ˈlō-kə-ˌlīz 

localized also British localised; localizing also British localising

transitive verb

: to make local

especially : to fix in or confine to a definite place or part

hot applications helped to localize the infection

intransitive verb

: to accumulate in or be restricted to a specific or limited area

this parasite localizes and grows in the muscle

—Morris Fishbein