monopolize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to acquire, have, or exercise a monopoly of.
-
to obtain exclusive possession of; keep entirely to oneself.
Children monopolize one's time.
verb
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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
- antimonopolization adjective
- monopolization noun
- monopolizer noun
- overmonopolize verb (used with object)
- premonopolize verb (used with object)
- unmonopolized adjective
- unmonopolizing adjective
Etymology
Origin of monopolize
First recorded in 1605–15; monopol(y) + -ize
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.
Watts says you may already be attached once you notice the signs—they start a fight after a big event in the partner’s life, give backhanded compliments, monopolize the conversation—but it’s not worth sticking around.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025
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
“No small group of people should be able to monopolize what gets monetized,” Yaccarino said in the two-minute video.
From Slate • Aug. 7, 2024
Justice Department on Thursday filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple alleging that the technology giant attempted to monopolize the smartphone market to boost its business.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2024
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
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.
