Synonyms

mobilize

American

[moh-buh-lahyz] / ˈmoʊ bəˌlaɪz /

especially British, mobilise

verb (used with object)

to assemble or marshal (armed forces, military reserves, or civilian persons of military age) into readiness for active service.
to organize or adapt (industries, transportation facilities, etc.) for service to the government in time of war.
to marshal, bring together, prepare (power, force, wealth, etc.) for action, especially of a vigorous nature.

to mobilize one's energy.
to increase or bring to a full stage of development.

to mobilize one's anger.

verb (used without object)

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

to mobilize for action.

mobilize British

/ ˈməʊbɪˌlaɪz /

verb

to prepare for war or other emergency by organizing (national resources, the armed services, etc)
(tr) to organize for a purpose; marshal
(tr) to put into motion, circulation, or use

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of mobilize

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

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."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing mobilize

World War II

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

March: Book Three

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Because They Marched

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

It’s not uncommon during large events for the department to mobilize officers from specialized units and others who don’t normally work in the field.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026

Optimism was fueled by the government’s pledge last year to mobilize more than $1 trillion for defense and infrastructure spending.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026

The DSA is highly organized on both a national and local level and, at least in New York City, can mobilize a small army of volunteers to canvas.

From Salon • Jun. 24, 2026

Its government created the fiscal space necessary to cope with disaster, mobilize financing, and rebuild, without missing a beat on its debt service or interrupting the remarkable compression in its cost of borrowing.

From Barron's • Jun. 23, 2026

The Virginia delegation had already received its marching orders to mobilize behind an amended version of the report.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023