civilize

[ siv-uh-lahyz ]

/ ˈsɪv əˌlaɪz /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: civilize / civilized / civilizing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), civ·i·lized, civ·i·liz·ing.

to bring out of a savage, uneducated, or rude state; make civil; elevate in social and private life; enlighten; refine: Rome civilized the barbarians.

OTHER WORDS FOR civilize

educate, teach, instruct, polish, sophisticate.

See synonyms for civilize on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also especially British, civ·i·lise .

Origin of civilize

1595–1605; <French civiliser;see civil, -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM civilize

civ·i·liz·a·ble, adjectiveciv·i·liz·a·to·ry

[siv-uh-lahy-zuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], /ˌsɪv əˈlaɪ zəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectiveciv·i·liz·er, nounde·civ·i·lize, verb (used with object), de·civ·i·lized, de·civ·i·liz·ing.

non·civ·i·liz·a·ble, adjectiveo·ver·civ·i·lize, verb, o·ver·civ·i·lized, o·ver·civ·i·liz·ing.un·civ·i·liz·a·ble, adjectiveun·civ·i·lize, verb (used with object), un·civ·i·lized, un·civ·i·liz·ing.

Words nearby civilize

Civilian Conservation Corps, civilianize, civilian review board, civility, civilization, civilize, civilized, civil law, civil libertarian, civil liberties, civil liberty

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use civilize in a sentence

He made you city dwellers and civilized you with good laws and customs.
The Mighty Macedonian Phalanx: 6 Things You Should Know|Dattatreya Mandal|July 29, 2022|Realm of History
Sometimes it takes just one civilizing meal to make us feel like ourselves again.
Daniel Boulud on the essential role of restaurants in recovering from the pandemic|Anne Quito|June 8, 2021|Quartz
Alexander Stuart, the third interior secretary, once declared that the United States’ mission was to “civilize or exterminate” native people.
Why Senate Republicans fear Deb Haaland|Julian Brave NoiseCat|February 25, 2021|Washington Post
An Army veteran looks at the fall of Mosul and recalls his own time there trying to civilize the land with guns and money.
Mosul's Civilization and Its Discontents|Michael Carson|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It means destroying Bedouin villages in the place where Jews civilize the desert.
Daniel Gordis Has It Backwards|Mark Baker|December 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Consider it part of the mission to civilize, a necessary part of the process to start solving problems again in Washington.
Vote the Bums Out: the Eight Worst Members of Congress|John Avlon|November 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In the old days, colonial occupiers had what the French called “a mission to civilize.”
The O Word: Christopher Dickey on What Occupation Means Today|Christopher Dickey|December 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
A person who had resided some time on the coast of Africa, was asked if he thought it possible to civilize the natives?
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Nothing but slavery ever partially civilized him, nothing but slavery continued in some form can civilize him further!
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 1995, Memorial Issue|Various
But our object in the country is to civilize and Christianize the Indian tribes among whom we are located.
Early Western Travels 1748-1846, Volume XXX|Joel Palmer
Are they useful men helping to civilize and elevate their less fortunate fellows?
The Negro Problem|Booker T. Washington, et al.
History furnishes us with abundant and specific evidence of his capacity to civilize and Christianize.
History of the Negro Race in America From 1619 to 1880. Vol 1|George W. Williams

British Dictionary definitions for civilize

civilize

civilise

/ (ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to bring out of savagery or barbarism into a state characteristic of civilization

to refine, educate, or enlighten

Derived forms of civilize

civilizable or civilisable, adjectivecivilizer or civiliser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

civilize

OTHER WORDS FOR civilize

Origin of civilize

OTHER WORDS FROM civilize

Words nearby civilize

Words related to civilize

How to use civilize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for civilize

civilise

Derived forms of civilize