mobilize

American  

[moh-buh-lahyz] / ˈmoʊ bəˌlaɪz /

especially British, mobilise

verb (used with object)

mobilizes, present (3rd person singular) mobilized, past participle, past mobilizing present participle

1. to assemble or marshal (armed forces, military reserves, or civilian persons of military age) into readiness for active service.

2. to organize or adapt (industries, transportation facilities, etc.) for service to the government in time of war.

3. to marshal, bring together, prepare (power, force, wealth, etc.) for action, especially of a vigorous nature.

   to mobilize one's energy.

4. to increase or bring to a full stage of development.

   to mobilize one's anger.

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verb (used without object)

mobilizes, present (3rd person singular) mobilized, past participle, past mobilizing present participle

1. to be or become assembled, organized, etc., as for war.

   to mobilize for action.

mobilize British  

/ ˈməʊbɪˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to prepare for war or other emergency by organizing (national resources, the armed services, etc)

2. (tr) to organize for a purpose; marshal

3. (tr) to put into motion, circulation, or use

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• remobilize
  verb
• mobilizer
  noun
• overmobilize
  verb
• unmobilized
  adjective
• mobilization
  noun
• mobilizable
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have mobilized
  perfect
• has mobilized
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been mobilizing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• mobilizes
  singular 3rd person
• have been mobilizing
  perfect progressive
• is mobilizing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are mobilizing
  progressive
• am mobilizing
  progressive 1st person singular
• mobilizing
  participle

Past

• had mobilized
  perfect
• were mobilizing
  progressive plural
• was mobilizing
  progressive singular
• had been mobilizing
  perfect progressive
• mobilized
  simple
• mobilized
  participle

Future

• will mobilize
  simple
• will have mobilized
  perfect
• will have been mobilizing
  perfect progressive
• will be mobilizing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of mobilize

First recorded in 1830–40; back formation from mobilization; see mobile, -ization

Explanation

Use the verb mobilize to describe preparing something — or someone — to spring into action, or to be put into use. You might mobilize the troops, or even your classmates, into action. A busy mother might mobilize her kids to grab their lunches and head out to the bus stop on time, and a detective might mobilize her resources before tracking down a wily criminal. Mobilize literally means "make mobile," and the Latin root is mobilis, "movable, pliable, or flexible."

Example Sentences

Ryan Hampton, the co-founder of the nonprofit Mobilize Recovery, said Wednesday his organization was facing cuts amounting to nearly $500,000 from a multiyear grant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Talks have already moved forward in France on charging boxes that customers can have installed at home for their Nissan EV, which will be supplied by the Mobilize unit of its partner Renault.

From Reuters • Mar. 23, 2023

Mobilize the rest of the state and risk alienating King?

From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2022

For instance, Mobilize didn’t sign a contract with the DNC until June 8, 2016—well after the March protest in Chicago.

From Time • Oct. 18, 2016

Mobilize others through informal discussions, door-to-door canvassing, and school meetings to ensure that students get a consistent no-drug message at home, at school, and in the community.

From What Works: Schools Without Drugs by Education, United States Department of

Related Words

• assemble
• marshal
• organize
• prepare