acclimatize
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- acclimatizable adjective
- acclimatization noun
- acclimatizer noun
- reacclimatization noun
- reacclimatize verb
- unacclimatized adjective
Etymology
Origin of acclimatize
Explanation
When you get used to a new situation or climate, you acclimatize to it. People who travel to very hot countries in the summer find it takes quite some time to acclimatize to the heat. The verb acclimatize is usually followed by the word "to," and while you can use it to essentially mean "get used to the weather," it can also refer to new situations. A new student will acclimatize to her new school, and an African immigrant will need to acclimatize to many unfamiliar conditions in the US. Acclimatize comes from acclimate, and in many cases has replaced it — both come from a French root, acclimater.
Vocabulary lists containing acclimatize
Kindred
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"So You're Going to Mars"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Climbers have to walk across those ladders, wearing big boots and crampons, as they make multiple trips back and forth to advanced camps to acclimatize before finally heading for the summit.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2024
In other cases, temperature variability can lead to an opposite response in the affected organism: an ability to acclimatize or adapt to temperature extremes, depending on their frequency and intensity.
From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2023
Children’s bodies take longer to increase sweat production and otherwise acclimatize in a warm environment than adults’ do, research shows.
From Scientific American • Aug. 5, 2022
Humans have some ability to acclimatize to hot environments.
From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2022
Harry’s eyes, still puffy, took a moment to acclimatize, then he saw a pair of wrought-iron gates at the foot of what looked like a long drive.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
