modernize

verb

mod·​ern·​ize ˈmä-dər-ˌnīz How to pronounce modernize (audio)
modernized; modernizing
Synonyms of modernizenext

transitive verb

: to make modern (as in taste, style, or usage)
modernize a kitchen

intransitive verb

: to adopt modern ways
Older companies need to modernize to survive in the new economy.
modernizer noun

Examples of modernize in a Sentence

We're modernizing our kitchen with a new oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher. The country recently announced plans to begin modernizing its army. The school needs a building with modernized classrooms. Older companies will need to modernize quickly if they are to survive in today's economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its traditional farm buildings have been sensitively modernized by Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, now housing 40 rooms as well as a spa, fitness studio, two outdoor pools, and a choice of restaurants that champion the estate’s agricultural output. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026 Backed by Andrew Rosen, TWP, the American Apparel & Footwear Association and others, the program marks the next chapter of the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, originally established to help New York City manufacturers modernize equipment and facilities. Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026 Some of those resources could go to modernizing computer systems to allow for better statewide law enforcement coordination, Greene said. Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026 After a period of network decline through the 2010s, the platform underwent a multi-year overhaul to modernize its user experience and strengthen its core offerings. The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for modernize

Word History

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of modernize was in 1716

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Cite this Entry

“Modernize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modernize. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

modernize

verb
mod·​ern·​ize ˈmäd-ər-ˌnīz How to pronounce modernize (audio)
modernized; modernizing
: to make or become modern
especially : to change to suit present styles, tastes, or needs
modernization
ˌmäd-ər-nə-ˈzā-shən
noun
modernizer
ˈmäd-ər-ˌnī-zər
noun

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