personalize

American  

[pur-suh-nl-ahyz] / ˈpɜr sə nlˌaɪz /

especially British, personalise

verb (used with object)

personalized, personalizing

1. to have marked with one's initials, name, or monogram.

   to personalize stationery.

2. to make personal, as by applying a general statement to oneself.

3. to ascribe personal qualities to; personify.

4. to design or tailor to meet an individual's specifications, needs, or preferences.

   a personalized search engine;

   personalized learning.

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personalize British  

/ ˈpɜːsənəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to endow with personal or individual qualities or characteristics

2. to mark (stationery, clothing, etc) with a person's initials, name, etc

3. to take (a remark, etc) personally

4. another word for personify

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Other Word Forms

• personalization noun
• unpersonalized adjective
• unpersonalizing adjective

Etymology

Origin of personalize

First recorded in 1720–30; personal + -ize

Example Sentences

Apps often employ algorithms that personalize what users see based on their viewing activity, a feature critics say traps young people in damaging online environments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

When you personalize it — when the victims are people who look like you, your neighbors, the people you see at the restaurant or supermarket — it becomes more real.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

"The results could help clinicians personalize heart disease prevention strategies in the future."

From Science Daily • Feb. 4, 2026

At the same time, management described customization as a $1 billion-a-year business, built on high-margin modifiers such as cold foam, milk alternatives, and protein add-ins that allow customers to personalize nearly every beverage.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

This tendency to personalize is, as we’ll see, a characteristic of many people who suffer from innumeracy.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Related Words

• illustrate