conceptualize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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conceptualizesimple
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conceptualizessimple
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have conceptualizedperfect
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has conceptualizedperfect
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am conceptualizingprogressive
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are conceptualizingprogressive
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is conceptualizingprogressive
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have been conceptualizingperfect progressive
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has been conceptualizingperfect progressive
Past
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conceptualizedsimple
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had conceptualizedperfect
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was conceptualizingprogressive
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were conceptualizingprogressive
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had been conceptualizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of conceptualize
First recorded in 1875–80; conceptual + -ize
Explanation
If you have an idea for something, or if you understand something fully, you conceptualize it. You might conceptualize the plan for a big party, but find it hard to conceptualize exactly how the big bang worked. In conceptualize, you see the word concept which means an idea. Don't think of a simple idea though, like taking a walk. Imagine a complex concept involving many elements, so a little brain work is involved. When you conceptualize, you either create a concept or you grasp one. The idea of man landing on the moon was conceptualized hundreds of years before it was planned or achieved.
Vocabulary lists containing conceptualize
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:
Americans had to conceptualize their liberation in alignment with the laws of nature.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
Numbers this big can be hard to conceptualize, so Dow Jones Market Data sought to put some context around Nvidia’s next threshold.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2025
“That impact is something that is hard to conceptualize, even when you are a member of Congress who represents some of these communities,” Maher said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2025
The data may simply illustrate the ways in which younger individuals conceptualize what it takes to make a living.
From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2024
But he couldn’t form words, couldn’t conceptualize this as a victory.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
“He conceptualizes everything so well. He’s got this numbers thing going on in his head. Like, ‘You don’t have enough people over here to cover the receiver, so therefore, they’re probably doing something over here.’
From Washington Post ● Feb. 9, 2023
“He’s obviously beyond a monster, but the way he conceptualizes himself and the story he tells himself about his life …” she trails off.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2020
He questioned how the museum conceptualizes blockbuster exhibitions, and whether artists and community leaders are part of the initial conversations.
From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2020
Gay’s diary includes astute criticisms of how the public conceptualizes the wealth of famous writers and how “cultural ubiquity is not the same as actual money.”
From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2018
Clinical Is A potentially clinical psychiatric mental health situation becomes "clinical" if the clinician relates to the helpee to awaken his unique potential or ontic wholeness, and noetically transcending this relating conceptualizes its meaning.
From Humanistic Nursing by Paterson, Josephine G.
In his 2004 book, “Affirmative Action Around the World,” economist Thomas Sowell highlighted the dangers of poorly conceptualized affirmative-action policies in India and other countries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Karen Zacarías initially conceptualized “Destiny of Desire” as a response to offensive stereotypes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2026
It was there, on a whiteboard in her kitchen, that he conceptualized this modern, diverse digital media company, he said.
From Slate ● Dec. 12, 2024
"For our devices, we conceptualized and designed a nonacene-like molecule with a unique architecture," said co-lead author Preeta Pratakshya, who recently received her Ph.D. in UCI's Department of Chemistry.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 4, 2024
Yet, often it cannot be substantiated fully and conceptualized logically at specific times, therefore it is subjective.
From Humanistic Nursing by Paterson, Josephine G.
It is easy to deprecate the single phrase inscribed atop the entrance to our courthouse by conceptualizing it as a mere platitude.
From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2025
I have not read this book, but I think there's something to the idea of understanding where the opposition is coming from, how they are conceptualizing the problem.
From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2025
He was as good at capturing attention as conceptualizing a roster.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2025
For Muehl, it’s all about conceptualizing and painstakingly trying to get the dishes “show ready.”
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024
The following quote is offered to support and validate the efforts put into conceptualizing this method.
From Humanistic Nursing by Paterson, Josephine G.
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.
