mobilize
verb
mo·bi·lize
ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz 
mobilized; mobilizing
1
a
: to put into movement or circulation
mobilize financial assets
b
: to release (something stored in the organism) for bodily use
The body mobilizes its antibodies.
2
a
: to assemble and make ready for war duty
mobilize all reserve forces for overseas duty
b
: to marshal (something, such as resources) for action
mobilize support for a proposal
: to undergo mobilization
The army can mobilize quickly for a major war.
Examples of mobilize in a Sentence
They couldn't mobilize enough support to pass the new law.
Several groups have mobilized to oppose the proposed new law.
They have the ability to mobilize quickly.
The government had to mobilize the army quickly.
More than 10,000 troops were mobilized for war.
Recent Examples on the Web
The 216th Military Police Company was federally mobilized in 2003 to provide garrison security at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for one year.
—
Tony Holt, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2023
The state immediately mobilized, and first responders and law enforcement are on the scene.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2023
The experts assumed that this would soon change, and that they’d be mobilized in a hot war against malevolent fakers.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
Green’s industry friends mobilized to prevent that kind of messaging from tainting the reputation of Coyote vs. Acme.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
This dispatch from northern Virginia details how GOP grassroots groups are looking to mobilize voters in key legislative races ahead of next week’s elections.
—Bridget Bowman, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2023
As the administration moved to roll back the rules, the industry also mobilized through one of its chief lobbying groups — the Community Financial Services Association of America — and sued the CFPB in 2018.
—Tony Romm, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023
When a 10-year-old Ohio girl had to cross state lines to terminate her pregnancy last summer, attracting national headlines, activists in that state mobilized to get a ballot measure to enshrine protections in the state constitution.
—Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2023
But the force has a capacity to mobilize when necessary.
—Jon Gertner, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023
See More
Tony Holt, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2023
The state immediately mobilized, and first responders and law enforcement are on the scene.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2023
The experts assumed that this would soon change, and that they’d be mobilized in a hot war against malevolent fakers.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
Green’s industry friends mobilized to prevent that kind of messaging from tainting the reputation of Coyote vs. Acme.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
This dispatch from northern Virginia details how GOP grassroots groups are looking to mobilize voters in key legislative races ahead of next week’s elections.
—Bridget Bowman, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2023
As the administration moved to roll back the rules, the industry also mobilized through one of its chief lobbying groups — the Community Financial Services Association of America — and sued the CFPB in 2018.
—Tony Romm, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023
When a 10-year-old Ohio girl had to cross state lines to terminate her pregnancy last summer, attracting national headlines, activists in that state mobilized to get a ballot measure to enshrine protections in the state constitution.
—Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2023
But the force has a capacity to mobilize when necessary.
—Jon Gertner, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mobilize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1838, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near mobilize
Cite this Entry
“Mobilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mobilize. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
mobilize
verb
mo·bi·lize
ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz
mobilized; mobilizing
: to assemble and make ready for action : marshal
mobilization
noun
ˌmō-bə-lə-ˈzā-shən
Medical Definition
mobilize
verb
mo·bi·lize
variants
also British mobilise
mobilized also British mobilised; mobilizing also British mobilising
1
: to put into movement or circulation : make mobile
specifically
: to release (something stored in the body) for body use
the body mobilizes its antibodies
2
: to assemble (as resources) and make ready for use
the sympathetic nervous system … mobilizes the bodily resources as a means of preparing for fight or flight—H. G. Armstrong
H. G. Armstrong3
: to separate (an organ or part) from associated structures so as to make more accessible for operative procedures
4
: to develop to a state of acute activity
ego feeling and ego attitude … mobilize hostile feelings toward others—Abram Kardiner
Abram Kardiner
: to undergo mobilization : assemble and organize for action
More from Merriam-Webster on mobilize
Nglish: Translation of mobilize for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of mobilize for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share