normalize

American  

[nawr-muh-lahyz] / ˈnɔr məˌlaɪz /

especially British, normalise

verb (used with object)

• normalizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• normalized,
  past participle,  past
• normalizing
  present participle

1. to make normal.

   Traditional Chinese medicine uses ginseng to normalize blood pressure.

2. to cause (something previously considered abnormal or unacceptable) to be treated as normal.

   I have to resist the impulse to normalize her eccentricities.

3. to establish or resume (relations) in a normal manner, as between countries.

4. Statistics. to mathematically transform or adjust (the values in a data set) so that they fit a standard measure or scale, such as by making all the values fall between 0 and 1.

   Data was normalized before analysis.

5. Metallurgy. to heat (a steel alloy) to a suitable temperature above the transformation range and then cool it in still air at ambient temperature.

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verb (used without object)

• normalizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• normalized,
  past participle,  past
• normalizing
  present participle

1. to become normal; resume a normal state.

   Prices soon normalized after the war.

normalize British  

/ ˈnɔːməˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to bring or make into the normal state

2. to bring into conformity with a standard

3. to heat (steel) above a critical temperature and allow it to cool in air to relieve internal stresses; anneal

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• denormalization
  noun
• normalization
  noun
• overnormalization
  noun
• renormalization
  noun
• overnormalize
  verb (used with object)
• renormalize
  verb (used with object)
• unnormalized
  adjective
• unnormalizing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• normalizing
  present
• normalized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• normalize
  simple
• normalizes
  simple
• have normalized
  perfect
• has normalized
  perfect
• am normalizing
  progressive
• are normalizing
  progressive
• is normalizing
  progressive
• have been normalizing
  perfect progressive
• has been normalizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• normalized
  simple
• had normalized
  perfect
• was normalizing
  progressive
• were normalizing
  progressive
• had been normalizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will normalize
  simple
• will have normalized
  perfect
• will be normalizing
  progressive
• will have been normalizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of normalize

First recorded in 1860–65; normal + -ize

Explanation

If it's out of whack, totally crazy and absolutely bizarre, it should probably be normalized, or put back into a normal state. Something that's been normalized has been put back to normal, whether you're talking about the weather pattern or your sleep habits. Someone who likes to keep things in order is probably a fan of the word normalize. Stock brokers, for example, hate it when the stock market takes them on a wild, unpredictable ride; they'd much rather have things normalize and settle down.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

normalize normalizes normalized normalizing

With Strait of Hormuz flows unlikely to normalize soon and repairs to Gulf refineries targeted by Iranian attacks expected to take months, the market could remain tight and keep margins elevated for months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

To be sure, it is still early in the month, and McElligott expects this figure to normalize as August continues on — unless investors continue to pile into bullish bets.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

It also would require the BOJ to move more aggressively to normalize monetary policy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

"That's what I see continuing on out into 2027... When fuel prices normalize, American is going to be the best investment out there."

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

“I must point out that the move I have taken provides you with the opportunity to overcome the current deadlock, and to normalize the country’s political situation. I hope you will seize it without delay.”

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

“Our biggest call…on the assumption of an unrestricted Hormuz, is that the oil market normalizes far quicker than consensus expects,” Macquarie strategist Peter Taylor wrote in a research note.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

According to Wilson, the critical issue for markets in coming days will be how quickly positioning normalizes.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026

“It normalizes the use of AI replicas and synthetic performers rather than drawing a firm line protecting human performers and their jobs,” said Chuck Slavin, a background actor and performer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

Both sides condemn legalization, which exists in places like Amsterdam and which imposes a strong regulatory system—but for very different reasons: the first, because it normalizes exploitation and the latter because it limits free trade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

Nichols normalizes the text, spells out several names in full, and adds several unimportant notes.

From Two Poems Against Pope One Epistle to Mr. A. Pope and the Blatant Beast by J. V. (Joseph V.) Guerinot

There was a "chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict," he told CNBC.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

“We’ve normalized putting money on entertainment, and now juiced up our entertainment experience,” Fong said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

“This is the tip of the iceberg. Apple lacks visibility into what’s been happening behind closed doors at OpenAI, where such misconduct is normalized and exemplified by leadership,” according to the lawsuit.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026

More than 70% logged better-than-expected sales, and with operating leverage returning to normalized levels postpandemic, sales beats are once again becoming a more reliable indicator of upside earnings surprises.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

It was a breathtaking moment, for in one sweeping action he had virtually normalized the situation in South Africa.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

By the end, he managed to orchestrate the Abraham Accords, an agreement normalizing diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Israel.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

But to avoid feeling complicit or like we’re normalizing something we know to be harmful, there are discussions to be had—amongst ourselves at least.

From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026

Despite the potential blockade to come, analysts at Citigroup maintain a diplomatic solution nearing soon with flows through the Strait of Hormuz normalizing.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

Allianz Research believes that the peak in inflation “should already be behind us,” with oil flows normalizing and crude oil prices even falling back below prewar levels.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

“It’s not normalizing anything if everyone just pretends they don't see it or that the tampons don't exist.”

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely

Related Words

• assign
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• distribute
• establish
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