mobilize
Americanverb (used with object)
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mobilizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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mobilized,
past participle, past
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mobilizing
present participle
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to assemble or marshal (armed forces, military reserves, or civilian persons of military age) into readiness for active service.
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to organize or adapt (industries, transportation facilities, etc.) for service to the government in time of war.
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to marshal, bring together, prepare (power, force, wealth, etc.) for action, especially of a vigorous nature.
to mobilize one's energy.
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to increase or bring to a full stage of development.
to mobilize one's anger.
verb (used without object)
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mobilizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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mobilized,
past participle, past
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mobilizing
present participle
verb
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to prepare for war or other emergency by organizing (national resources, the armed services, etc)
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(tr) to organize for a purpose; marshal
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(tr) to put into motion, circulation, or use
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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mobilizationnoun
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mobilizernoun
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overmobilizeverb
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remobilizeverb
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mobilizableadjective
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unmobilizedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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mobilizesimple
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mobilizessimple
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have mobilizedperfect
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has mobilizedperfect
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am mobilizingprogressive
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are mobilizingprogressive
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is mobilizingprogressive
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have been mobilizingperfect progressive
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has been mobilizingperfect progressive
Past
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mobilizedsimple
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had mobilizedperfect
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was mobilizingprogressive
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were mobilizingprogressive
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had been mobilizingperfect progressive
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."
Vocabulary lists containing mobilize
World War II
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March: Book Three
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Because They Marched
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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.
See Examples For:
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
BMO plans to mobilize up to C$70 billion over the next decade for sectors critical to Canadian economic security and resilience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
“Central banks want to know they can access and mobilize their gold when they need it.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 6, 2026
But is the intent to mobilize the public’s power, or to recruit their viewership?
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026
To do this sort of work, Jones and Allen had to mobilize an army of helpers.
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
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
Art mobilizes against bullets, bombs and tanks in “Porcelain War,” a documentary about how beauty not only persists amid the wreckage of warfare but serves as a necessary existential weapon of its own.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2025
“Look how El Lider mobilizes the people to protect his causes,” Jorge del Pino told his daughter.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
He said the company has a team mobilized in Venezuela and that it will need to drill exploration wells to appraise the region’s production potential.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 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
Almost every week this summer brought new reports of drone incursions over the alliance’s eastern frontier and North Atlantic Treaty Organization jets mobilized to shoot them down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had mobilized Copernicus, a satellite service, to help with rescue operations.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
“We have mobilized a million men. Quick victory is ours if the war comes...”
From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
Last month, the Houthis began stepping up the fight, mobilizing to take territory along the Bab al-Mandeb.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 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
Last month, Bass issued orders mandating Lineage remove all food waste within 45 days and mobilizing resources to assist the community.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Music and singing played a critical role in inspiring, mobilizing, and giving voice to the Civil Rights movement.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
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.
