harmonize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
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to make or become harmonious
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(tr) music to provide a harmony for (a melody, tune, etc)
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(intr) to sing in harmony, as with other singers
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to collate parallel narratives
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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harmonizationnoun
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harmonizernoun
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reharmonizeverb (used with object)
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unharmonizeverb (used with object)
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harmonizableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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harmonizesimple
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harmonizessimple
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have harmonizedperfect
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has harmonizedperfect
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am harmonizingprogressive
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are harmonizingprogressive
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is harmonizingprogressive
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have been harmonizingperfect progressive
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has been harmonizingperfect progressive
Past
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harmonizedsimple
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had harmonizedperfect
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was harmonizingprogressive
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were harmonizingprogressive
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had been harmonizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of harmonize
First recorded in 1475–85; late Middle English, also armonise, from Middle French harmoniser, equivalent to harmonie + -iser, verb suffix; see harmony, -ize
Explanation
When you harmonize different opinions or ideas, you bring them to some kind of agreement. It's challenging to harmonize the different interests of a whole classroom full of children, but that's part of what a good teacher does. When senators from different parties work together on a bill, they need to harmonize their different expectations and and priorities before they can come up with a good compromise. Another way to harmonize is to blend two singing voices or two instruments in a way that sounds pleasing. This is the oldest meaning of the word, which ultimately comes from the Greek harmonia, "concord of sounds" or "agreement."
Vocabulary lists containing harmonize
"Say It with Flowers" and "The Journey"
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-ize
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ize
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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.
Regulators have been working on finalizing new capital standards for banks for years, the culmination of an international effort to harmonize capital requirements after the 2008 financial crisis.
From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026
The mushy score, absurdly pompous speeches, and Victorian staginess harmonize with Mr. Fraser’s conception of his role as the emoter in chief.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
A combined company would also have to integrate complex union seniority lists; harmonize a massive fleet, which comprises both Boeing and Airbus jets; and face a web of co-branded card programs offered by each airline.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
"One of the technical advances that we made in this work is to figure out how to harmonize all these different data modalities so they can come together to learn the same language," Zou said.
From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2026
The tune was simple and easy to harmonize to, though, and back then I could memorize almost anything set to music after a round or two.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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.
