monopolize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
monopolizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
monopolized,
past participle, past
-
monopolizing
present participle
-
to acquire, have, or exercise a monopoly of.
-
to obtain exclusive possession of; keep entirely to oneself.
Children monopolize one's time.
verb
-
to have, control, or make use of fully, excluding others
-
to obtain, maintain, or exploit a monopoly of (a market, commodity, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
monopolizationnoun
-
monopolizernoun
-
overmonopolizeverb (used with object)
-
premonopolizeverb (used with object)
-
antimonopolizationadjective
-
unmonopolizedadjective
-
unmonopolizingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
monopolizesimple
-
monopolizessimple
-
have monopolizedperfect
-
has monopolizedperfect
-
am monopolizingprogressive
-
are monopolizingprogressive
-
is monopolizingprogressive
-
have been monopolizingperfect progressive
-
has been monopolizingperfect progressive
Past
-
monopolizedsimple
-
had monopolizedperfect
-
was monopolizingprogressive
-
were monopolizingprogressive
-
had been monopolizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of monopolize
First recorded in 1605–15; monopol(y) + -ize
Explanation
If you monopolize something, you won't let anyone else get their hands on it. When you were little, your mom might have said, "Don't monopolize the swing. Let your sister have a turn." When a company monopolizes something, it has an unfair amount of control over a particular product or service, hurting other companies and giving consumers fewer choices. A business might monopolize the media in an entire state, for example, by owning the local newspapers, TV stations, and news websites. Monopolize comes from monopoly, which isn't just a great board game, but actually means "exclusive control of a commodity or trade."
Vocabulary lists containing monopolize
30 GRE Words Beginning with "K" "L""M" and "N" and "O"
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!
Nine Stories
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!
"Declaration of Sentiments" by Elizabeth Cady Stanton
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.
See Examples For:
The Erie board feared it was an attempt to take over their company and monopolize the major New York railways.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Federal Trade Commission is launching an antitrust probe into the company over whether it will try to monopolize the CPU market after launching its own chip.
From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026
Understanding just how China came to monopolize the rare-earth industry can help investors anticipate what’s coming next, making it easier to invest in the critical—and exceedingly volatile—sector.
From Barron's ● Nov. 21, 2025
On one side was Continental and Northwest, which claimed larger rival American Airlines had illegally lowered fares to monopolize certain markets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2025
That factor alone would explain why societies of thousands can exist only if they develop centralized authority to monopolize force and resolve conflicts.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Department of Justice in an epic antitrust case, alleging that Google monopolizes online advertising technology.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2023
On platforms such as Zoom, the screen monopolizes our interactions.
From Scientific American ● Apr. 27, 2022
The disharmony in the Schisa household is comically banal — an all-but-unseen sister monopolizes the bathroom; an aristocratic landlady bangs on the ceiling with a broom — until Saverio’s infidelity cranks it up to melodrama.
From New York Times ● Dec. 14, 2021
Unfortunately, it's hard to pursue that inquiry when the wider war monopolizes our attention.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 28, 2018
No word can relieve the tension of his mind, and Mrs. Caudle monopolizes all the conversation.
From Browning and the Dramatic Monologue by S. S. (Samuel Silas) Curry
In April, a jury found Live Nation illegally monopolized the ticketing market for major concerts in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
With hiring managers prioritizing in-person work and AI able to tackle routine tasks that traditionally monopolized entry-level workers’ time, one could argue being agreeable is paramount.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
This pattern suggests that wealth and authority were not monopolized by a single powerful leader.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
For example, Leo points out that the private companies who’ve monopolized control over and knowledge of A.I. are given to “technocratic thinking” that “tends to amplify the power of those who already possess economic resources.”
From Slate ● May 28, 2026
While Winnie monopolized Brigit, Ella went to her bedroom and opened her little red door to find the family's dirt dobbin perched on the canopy of her bed.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
In a 2022 lawsuit closely watched by advocates for the “right to repair” movement, farmers accused Deere of monopolizing repairs by limiting what farmers or independent mechanics can do.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026
At issue was the definition of the market that Meta was allegedly monopolizing.
From Barron's ● Nov. 18, 2025
Once guidelines changed to make it easier to detect monopolizing behavior, the FTC initiated a series of lawsuits to go after that behavior.
From Slate ● Feb. 10, 2025
Pro sports lost me when big money teams began monopolizing, causing my beloved Pirates to fall by the wayside.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 23, 2024
His quiet, probing questions kept me talking freely, forgetting, in the dim light of the storm, to be embarrassed for monopolizing the conversation.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
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.
