Americanize

American  

[uh-mer-i-kuh-nahyz] / əˈmɛr ɪ kəˌnaɪz /

especially British, Americanise

verb (used with or without object)

Americanized, Americanizing

1. to make or become American in character; assimilate to the customs and institutions of the United States.

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Americanize British  

/ əˈmɛrɪkəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to make or become American in outlook, attitudes, etc

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Other Word Forms

• Americanization noun
• Americanizer noun
• de-Americanize verb
• half-Americanized adjective
• quasi-Americanized adjective

Etymology

Origin of Americanize

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; American + -ize

Example Sentences

And his character is complex in novel ways: The child of Chinese immigrants, Alexander was reared by people almost desperate to Americanize themselves, and he too has a hunger to be accepted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Meanwhile, Boyle Heights’ Forsythe Memorial School for Girls, a Protestant missionary school that sought to Americanize Mexican girls, is also on the list of historic places.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2025

As a part of their plan to Americanize the tribes, reformers sought legislation to replace this concept with the popular Euro-American notion of real estate ownership and self-reliance.

From Textbooks • Dec. 30, 2014

When the Andrews Sisters had a national hit with “Bei Mir Bistu Shein” in 1937, Claire decided that they should Americanize their first and last names to broaden their appeal.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2014

“And what better way to Americanize the children than to buy a car!”

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen