socialize

verb

so·​cial·​ize ˈsō-shə-ˌlīz 

socialized; socializing

transitive verb

1

: to make social

especially : to fit or train for a social environment

2

a

: to constitute on a socialistic basis

socialize industry

b

: to adapt to social needs or uses

3

: to organize group participation in

socialize a recitation

intransitive verb

: to participate actively in a social group

socializer

ˈsō-shə-ˌlī-zər 

noun

Synonyms of socialize

• mingle
• mix
• associate

Examples of socialize in a Sentence

She danced and socialized at the party.

he likes to socialize with his coworkers after work ends

Recent Examples on the Web

Schroeder and Pepper note that while girls are often socialized to name feelings, seek help, and build collaborative relationships, boys receive far fewer tools for navigating stress, conflict, and uncertainty. —Dr. Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Manning made relationships with other writers through Women Who Submit, a community of women and nonbinary writers, and is part of Alta Writers, a group of women who gathered monthly to write and socialize at the home of novelist Désirée Zamorano. —Erica Zora Wrightson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

Beer companies, unsurprisingly, have embraced this line of thinking, with several advertising their products as a solution to a lack of socializing. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026

All together, this combination of costumes and period dance — with waltz music by Johann Strauss I — created a vision of a long-ago time in Europe or America, when balls and village dances provided a key way for people to socialize. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for socialize

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

Kids Definition

socialize

verb

so·​cial·​ize ˈsō-shə-ˌlīz 

socialized; socializing

1

: to make social

especially : to make fit for a social environment

2

: to take part in social activities

socializing with friends after work

socialization

ˌsōsh-(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

socializer

ˈsō-shə-ˌlī-zər 

noun

Medical Definition

socialize

transitive verb

so·​cial·​ize

variants also British socialise

ˈsō-shə-ˌlīz 

socialized also British socialised; socializing also British socialising

: to make social

especially : to fit or train for society or a social environment

children are socialized according to a given cultural pattern

—H. A. Murray & C. K. Kluckhohn