modernize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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
-
have modernizedperfect
-
has modernizedperfect
-
am modernizingprogressive
-
are modernizingprogressive
-
is modernizingprogressive
-
have been modernizingperfect progressive
-
has been modernizingperfect progressive
Past
-
modernizedsimple
-
had modernizedperfect
-
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
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!
Absolutism and Enlightenment, Lessons 1–4
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!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for December 18–December 24, 2021
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:
When Julie Masino became Cracker Barrel’s CEO in 2023, she arrived with plans to modernize a restaurant chain known for breakfast, meatloaf, rocking chairs and a homespun atmosphere.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
For much of the past year, the company has attempted to move on after efforts to modernize the chain backfired.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The expansion is the latest in Newsom’s effort to modernize state agencies including the DMV.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in response that Ottawa stands ready to "intensify" talks with the United States, and has made proposals to resolve disputes and modernize the USMCA.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 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
Lloyd modernizes the stagecraft, injecting avant-garde intrigue into what is ultimately a commercial enterprise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024
As Beijing modernizes its military, its formidable missile forces and other naval vessels, such as cutting-edge cruisers, are posing a concern for the U.S. and its allies.
From Reuters ● May 5, 2023
But one particularly interesting item on the menu is the charcuterie board, which takes an uber-popular appetizer option, modernizes it and roots it in Southern comfort food traditions.
From Salon ● Feb. 6, 2023
Moving forward, the exhibition design modernizes: the wainscoting recedes, the colored walls fade away, and in the last room we encounter Turner in the anachronistic surrounds of a contemporary white cube.
From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2022
He modernizes elaborately Solomon's speech at the dedication of the sanctuary, and converts it into an apology for the Jews of his own day.
From Josephus by Bentwich, Norman
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
Kim Jong Un is pushing for a modernized naval fleet that challenges Washington and its allies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
He modernized the office during that time, digitizing millions of paper records and creating a portal to help residents search for assessment records.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 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
“Technology! Innovation! A modernized state in which all Americans—Negroes, whites, Indians—could live together.”
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
“Tragic. I understand modernizing Dana Point Harbor, but I don’t support losing the businesses that made it worth visiting in the first place,” one commenter wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Through nine agreements on reciprocal trade and a growing number of preliminary framework agreements with key partners, the administration is modernizing international trade rules for an economy driven by data, software, cloud computing and AI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
He has espoused a vision of modernizing PayPal’s technology and slashing costs aggressively to reinvest in growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 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.
