mobilize
Americanverb (used with object)
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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)
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
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.
During fasting, adrenaline activates HSL and pushes it out of the nucleus so it can help mobilize fat stores.
From Science Daily • May 8, 2026
EPCs can mobilize hundreds of workers to build major infrastructure projects.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
"Our strong army depends on our strong economy, because all of our resources, which we mobilize internally, we channel... to defend our nation," he says.
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026
Unilateral action can be rationalized as acting because it is too cumbersome to mobilize allies whose interests do not align with one’s own.
From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026
German troops would immediately sweep through France, occupy Paris, and knock France out of action in the west before Russia had enough time to fully mobilize.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
