urbanize
verb
ur·ban·ize
ˈər-bə-ˌnīz 
urbanized; urbanizing
1
: to cause to take on urban characteristics
urbanized areas
2
: to impart an urban way of life to
urbanize migrants from rural areas
Examples of urbanize in a Sentence
every September the city of Boston urbanizes a new crop of college students from small towns across the country
Recent Examples on the Web
During the party’s push to urbanize China in the 2000s, many farmers had to surrender even these meager rights in exchange for an apartment and a welfare check.
—
Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025
And so most countries around the world will need to urbanize to move their populations out of energy poverty, a great transformation that is already taking place at an unprecedented rate.
—Ted Nordhaus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Aug. 2016
As cities urbanize and increase in density, more buildings and underground utilities become spaces for rats, and more food becomes available for rodents to eat.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Many cities have pushed back, arguing that so many more homes will more rapidly urbanize their suburban communities.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for urbanize
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Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025
And so most countries around the world will need to urbanize to move their populations out of energy poverty, a great transformation that is already taking place at an unprecedented rate.
—Ted Nordhaus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Aug. 2016
As cities urbanize and increase in density, more buildings and underground utilities become spaces for rats, and more food becomes available for rodents to eat.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Many cities have pushed back, arguing that so many more homes will more rapidly urbanize their suburban communities.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for urbanize
Cite this Entry
“Urbanize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urbanize. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
urbanize
verb
ur·ban·ize
ˈər-bə-ˌnīz
urbanized; urbanizing
1
: to cause to have an urban appearance
urbanized areas
2
: to cause to take on an urban way of life
urbanized the peasant population
urbanization
noun
ˌər-bə-nə-ˈzā-shən
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