mobilize

verb

mo·​bi·​lize ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz 

mobilized; mobilizing

transitive verb

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(1)

: to bring (people) together for action

mobilized their supporters for the campaign

(2)

: to assemble and make (soldiers, an army, etc.) ready for war

mobilize all reserve forces for overseas duty

b

: to marshal (something, such as resources) for action

mobilize support for a proposal

intransitive verb

: to undergo mobilization

The army can mobilize quickly for a major war.

Synonyms of mobilize

• organize
• summon
• rally
• order

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

Meanwhile, national Republicans are attempting to mobilize the state’s conservative voters around Marshall in a state Trump won with 57% of the vote in 2024. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026

Then there’s an older Lula, back on the streets after being freed from prison for what his allies always believed were unjust corruption charges, and mobilizing opposition to Brazil’s far right in defense of the country’s democracy. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Generations of Black pastors and congregations helped organize movements, mobilize voters and shape the fight for equality. — AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Recent attempts to suppress Arab representation could either mobilize citizens who feel their remaining protections slipping away or deepen their reluctance to participate in an arena so visibly stacked against them. — Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for mobilize

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

Kids Definition

mobilize

verb

mo·​bi·​lize ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz 

mobilized; mobilizing

: to assemble and make ready for action : marshal

mobilization

ˌmō-bə-lə-ˈzā-shən

noun

Medical Definition

mobilize

verb

mo·​bi·​lize

variants also British mobilise

ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz 

mobilized also British mobilised; mobilizing also British mobilising

transitive verb

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

3

: 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

intransitive verb

: to undergo mobilization : assemble and organize for action

mobilizable adjective

also British mobilisable

ˈmō-bə-ˌlī-zə-bəl