mobilize

American  

[moh-buh-lahyz] / ˈmoʊ bəˌlaɪz /

especially British, mobilise

verb (used with object)

• mobilizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• mobilized,
  past participle,  past
• mobilizing
  present participle

1. to assemble or marshal (armed forces, military reserves, or civilian persons of military age) into readiness for active service.

2. to organize or adapt (industries, transportation facilities, etc.) for service to the government in time of war.

3. to marshal, bring together, prepare (power, force, wealth, etc.) for action, especially of a vigorous nature.

   to mobilize one's energy.

4. to increase or bring to a full stage of development.

   to mobilize one's anger.

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verb (used without object)

• mobilizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• mobilized,
  past participle,  past
• mobilizing
  present participle

1. to be or become assembled, organized, etc., as for war.

   to mobilize for action.

mobilize British  

/ ˈməʊbɪˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to prepare for war or other emergency by organizing (national resources, the armed services, etc)

2. (tr) to organize for a purpose; marshal

3. (tr) to put into motion, circulation, or use

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mobilization
  noun
• mobilizer
  noun
• overmobilize
  verb
• remobilize
  verb
• mobilizable
  adjective
• unmobilized
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• mobilizing
  present
• mobilized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• mobilize
  simple
• mobilizes
  simple
• have mobilized
  perfect
• has mobilized
  perfect
• am mobilizing
  progressive
• are mobilizing
  progressive
• is mobilizing
  progressive
• have been mobilizing
  perfect progressive
• has been mobilizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• mobilized
  simple
• had mobilized
  perfect
• was mobilizing
  progressive
• were mobilizing
  progressive
• had been mobilizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will mobilize
  simple
• will have mobilized
  perfect
• will be mobilizing
  progressive
• will have been mobilizing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of mobilize

First recorded in 1830–40; back formation from mobilization; see mobile, -ization

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Explanation

Use the verb mobilize to describe preparing something — or someone — to spring into action, or to be put into use. You might mobilize the troops, or even your classmates, into action. A busy mother might mobilize her kids to grab their lunches and head out to the bus stop on time, and a detective might mobilize her resources before tracking down a wily criminal. Mobilize literally means "make mobile," and the Latin root is mobilis, "movable, pliable, or flexible."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mobilize mobilizes mobilized mobilizing

Machado, who slipped out of hiding in Venezuela last December to receive her Nobel, said she had returned home to "mobilize society."

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

The findings suggest that sauna bathing may temporarily mobilize immune cells that normally remain in tissues, allowing them to circulate more widely throughout the body.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

Any campaign’s quest to mobilize additional voters, therefore, must find them among citizens without a strong sense of civic duty.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom last month declared a state of emergency, saying he wanted to mobilize state resources to “prepare for El Niño’s anticipated impacts, like strong storms and coastal flooding.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

If anyone could mobilize the unruly youth behind a negotiated solution, it was Chris.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Development Finance Corporation, a government agency that typically mobilizes capital for investment in developing countries, will provide discounted political risk insurance and guarantees for maritime transit.

From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026

Society mobilizes that power for collective ends, creating conflict between individuals, inside groups and between different groups.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

For the most part, it preaches to and mobilizes the converted.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2025

Dozens of vendors such as Dominguez have been talking up Medi-Cal as part of an unusual program that mobilizes street vendors around public health issues that are important to them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2023

“Look how El Lider mobilizes the people to protect his causes,” Jorge del Pino told his daughter.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

It’s just that it happened in the million imperceptible ways that never quite grabbed enough headlines to seem like the fully organized, mobilized, nationwide movement it was.

From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026

Nonprofit election protection organizations mobilized civic, business, and religious leaders to bolster support for threatened election officials.

From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2026

Outside, family, friends and others mobilized for his release.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Shasta Climbing Rangers, who had already been mobilized after friends of the injured man became concerned and reported him missing, according to the Forest Service.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

Every earth-digger and mechanical contrivance in the country had been mobilized to dig the colossal hole in which the nine giants were to be permanently imprisoned.

From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl

As the government focused on its next step, foreign relief organizations were mobilizing to the earthquake zone to help survivors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Bass said the Friday directive will not be her last executive order mobilizing resources for Boyle Heights following the fire.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

The group is expected to focus on door-to-door canvassing, digital advertising and direct mail aimed at mobilizing conservative voters who are less likely to participate in non-presidential elections.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

“There’s obviously a sense of fear in mobilizing from one place to another.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

“Lawrence was particularly vociferous about the need for mobilizing all scientific talent for the uranium program,” he wrote.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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Related Words

• assemble
• marshal
• organize
• prepare

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