conceptualize
Americanverb (used with object)
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conceptualizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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conceptualized,
past participle, past
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conceptualizing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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conceptualizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
conceptualized,
past participle, past
-
conceptualizing
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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conceptualizesimple
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conceptualizessimple
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have conceptualizedperfect
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has conceptualizedperfect
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am conceptualizingprogressive
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are conceptualizingprogressive
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is conceptualizingprogressive
-
have been conceptualizingperfect progressive
-
has been conceptualizingperfect progressive
Past
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conceptualizedsimple
-
had conceptualizedperfect
-
was conceptualizingprogressive
-
were conceptualizingprogressive
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had been conceptualizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of conceptualize
First recorded in 1875–80; conceptual + -ize
Explanation
If you have an idea for something, or if you understand something fully, you conceptualize it. You might conceptualize the plan for a big party, but find it hard to conceptualize exactly how the big bang worked. In conceptualize, you see the word concept which means an idea. Don't think of a simple idea though, like taking a walk. Imagine a complex concept involving many elements, so a little brain work is involved. When you conceptualize, you either create a concept or you grasp one. The idea of man landing on the moon was conceptualized hundreds of years before it was planned or achieved.
Vocabulary lists containing conceptualize
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.
See Examples For:
He recalls walking into her office and seeing manuscript pages splayed across the floor as she played Tetris trying to conceptualize a book’s structure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Its roots are in imagination, which means there are plenty of additional narratives to conceptualize.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
Tuesday’s board meeting provided a first look at how administrators conceptualize the board’s directive, approved unanimously on April 21, to limit district-required screen time.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
McCardel found that the job required an ability to conceptualize problems in a way that bordered on the philosophical.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 4, 2026
But he couldn’t form words, couldn’t conceptualize this as a victory.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
“He conceptualizes everything so well. He’s got this numbers thing going on in his head. Like, ‘You don’t have enough people over here to cover the receiver, so therefore, they’re probably doing something over here.’
From Washington Post ● Feb. 9, 2023
“He’s obviously beyond a monster, but the way he conceptualizes himself and the story he tells himself about his life …” she trails off.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2020
He questioned how the museum conceptualizes blockbuster exhibitions, and whether artists and community leaders are part of the initial conversations.
From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2020
And both issues stem from the same formative Silicon Valley worldview that conceptualizes the internet as a place that functions best with as little oversight as possible.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2019
In this reflective state the nurse analyzes, considers relationships between components, synthesizes themes or patterns, and then conceptualizes or symbolically interprets a sequential view of this past lived reality.
From Humanistic Nursing by Josephine G. Paterson
"Dr. Salvador really conceptualized and drove this work from the beginning," said Dr. Sheikh.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
In his 2004 book, “Affirmative Action Around the World,” economist Thomas Sowell highlighted the dangers of poorly conceptualized affirmative-action policies in India and other countries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Karen Zacarías initially conceptualized “Destiny of Desire” as a response to offensive stereotypes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2026
It was there, on a whiteboard in her kitchen, that he conceptualized this modern, diverse digital media company, he said.
From Slate ● Dec. 12, 2024
In this comparison my appreciation grew of how I had uniquely implemented and conceptualized clinical consultation in my work experience.
From Humanistic Nursing by Josephine G. Paterson
I have not read this book, but I think there's something to the idea of understanding where the opposition is coming from, how they are conceptualizing the problem.
From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2025
For Muehl, it’s all about conceptualizing and painstakingly trying to get the dishes “show ready.”
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024
As such, Lanning and his research team introduced a novel approach to conceptualizing person-community fit, predicated on the idea that communities, like persons, are diverse, and can include multiple environmental niches.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 7, 2024
So when you were conceptualizing things like this mood ring world, Justin is the guy who can really get into the details of things like the color script.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2023
In pursuing the idea of conceptualizing comfort as a proper aim of psychiatric nursing I extracted 12 nurse behaviors from my clinical data that were used repeatedly to increase patient comfort.
From Humanistic Nursing by Josephine G. Paterson
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