patronize
verb (used with object)
to give (a store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) one's regular patronage; trade with.
patronized
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past participleof patronize.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof patronize.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
patronizeverb (used with object)to give (a store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) one's regular patronage; trade with.
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.
They know when they’re being patronized, even if they don’t always say it.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2025
She said the East was largely misunderstood by West Germans — belittled, patronized and often ignored.
From New York Times ● Apr. 26, 2024
Everyone, it seemed, from local walkers and workers to people preparing to board cruise ships patronized Ralph’s.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2024
The last theater I patronized regularly was the Candlelight Pavillion Dinner Theater for both its delightful musical theater and summer midweek tribute bands.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2023
Women, patronized for millennia, traditionally denied real political and economic power, are gradually becoming, even in the most backward societies, equal partners with men.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
