modernize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
modernizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
modernized,
past participle, past
-
modernizing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
modernizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
modernized,
past participle, past
-
modernizing
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to make modern in appearance or style
to modernize a room
-
(intr) to adopt modern ways, ideas, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
modernizesimple
-
modernizessimple
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have modernizedperfect
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has modernizedperfect
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am modernizingprogressive
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are modernizingprogressive
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is modernizingprogressive
-
have been modernizingperfect progressive
-
has been modernizingperfect progressive
Past
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modernizedsimple
-
had modernizedperfect
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was modernizingprogressive
-
were modernizingprogressive
-
had been modernizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of modernize
First recorded in 1740–50; modern(ism) + -ize
Explanation
To modernize is to adjust or improve something, especially in a way that uses new technology. You might modernize your grandmother's kitchen by buying her a microwave and an espresso machine. When you modernize something, you bring it up to date. You could modernize your office by buying new computers, for example, or modernize your antique car by installing seat belts and a stereo. At the heart of modernize is the adjective modern, "relating to the present time" or "up-to-date." In Shakepeare, the word modern is often used to mean "ordinary," although today there's more of a sense of "the very latest technology."
Vocabulary lists containing modernize
Automobiles
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Absolutism and Enlightenment, Lessons 1–4
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for December 18–December 24, 2021
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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:
He was brought in by Blackstone in 2025 to modernize Jersey Mike’s with a similar playbook.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
The school outlined a plan to modernize student-housing a decade ago when finances were stable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
Washington says the company has also worked with Russian defense entities to modernize Soviet-era weapons systems.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
Supervisors have heralded Measure G as a transformative move that will modernize county government and reduce the concentration of power among the board’s members.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
"I figured I shouldn't dress you traditionally. It's time to modernize Belles, in my humble opinion. Du Barry has been so ancient in her preparations," he says under his breath.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Supporters of Palantir’s work argue that it modernizes outdated government IT systems, bringing them closer to the kind of integrated analytics that are routine in the private sector.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2025
Lloyd modernizes the stagecraft, injecting avant-garde intrigue into what is ultimately a commercial enterprise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024
Poland, however, now spends 4% of its GDP on defense, making it the member to spend the most in percentage terms as it modernizes its military, while the U.S. is well above 3%.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 11, 2024
The bank has taken on different roles in recent years, advising Treasury as it digitizes its payment systems and modernizes operations to pay and receive money from citizens and businesses more efficiently.
From Reuters ● Sep. 27, 2023
Mr Horne modernizes it into— "His uppermost short cloak was a bare thread."
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol 58, No. 357, July 1845 by Various
However, I can say Josh Dylan and Antonia Thomas do justice to their modernized versions of Christie’s power couple Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
The first DHC-515 -- the modernized version of the water bomber -- will go to Greece, Cote said, "in early 2028."
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The company plans to refresh its product mix with modernized packaging and update store experiences for easier shopping.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
“Lovingly stewarded by the same family for nearly 70 years, this grand residence has been thoughtfully updated and modernized in preparation for the next chapter in its illustrious history.”
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 14, 2026
After the welcoming ceremony and a tour of the city’s recently modernized ports and boulevards, the chauffeured car turned on to Paissandu Street, famous for the lanky royal palm trees that lined each side.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Making Shakespeare’s plays accessible is a noble goal, but there are other ways to go about this beyond modernizing the text and diluting its lyrical beauty and nuance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026
Rather than modernizing the home through an extensive renovation, however, the couple chose to preserve its midcentury character while tailoring other elements of the dwelling to their lifestyle.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
The contract would represent Ford’s biggest military contract since the Cold War, according to The Wall Street Journal, and reflects a push from the Defense Department for automakers to work on modernizing military hardware.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
“No, it’s going to impact folks of every age in all sorts of places, and we shouldn’t be willing to sacrifice those folks just to say that we are making progress for modernizing networks.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
He was in his forties and had talked about modernizing law enforcement in the region.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
