harmonize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to make or become harmonious
-
(tr) music to provide a harmony for (a melody, tune, etc)
-
(intr) to sing in harmony, as with other singers
-
to collate parallel narratives
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
harmonizationnoun
-
harmonizernoun
-
reharmonizeverb (used with object)
-
unharmonizeverb (used with object)
-
harmonizableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
harmonizesimple
-
harmonizessimple
-
have harmonizedperfect
-
has harmonizedperfect
-
am harmonizingprogressive
-
are harmonizingprogressive
-
is harmonizingprogressive
-
have been harmonizingperfect progressive
-
has been harmonizingperfect progressive
Past
-
harmonizedsimple
-
had harmonizedperfect
-
was harmonizingprogressive
-
were harmonizingprogressive
-
had been harmonizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of harmonize
First recorded in 1475–85; late Middle English, also armonise, from Middle French harmoniser, equivalent to harmonie + -iser, verb suffix; see harmony, -ize
Explanation
When you harmonize different opinions or ideas, you bring them to some kind of agreement. It's challenging to harmonize the different interests of a whole classroom full of children, but that's part of what a good teacher does. When senators from different parties work together on a bill, they need to harmonize their different expectations and and priorities before they can come up with a good compromise. Another way to harmonize is to blend two singing voices or two instruments in a way that sounds pleasing. This is the oldest meaning of the word, which ultimately comes from the Greek harmonia, "concord of sounds" or "agreement."
Vocabulary lists containing harmonize
"Say It with Flowers" and "The Journey"
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!
-ize
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!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ize
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:
The mushy score, absurdly pompous speeches, and Victorian staginess harmonize with Mr. Fraser’s conception of his role as the emoter in chief.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
Becerra “basically took a very absent, low profile — didn’t show up, didn’t harmonize the remarkable infighting,” Topol said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2026
A combined company would also have to integrate complex union seniority lists; harmonize a massive fleet, which comprises both Boeing and Airbus jets; and face a web of co-branded card programs offered by each airline.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 14, 2026
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins in a presentation mostly aimed at showing that the agencies would harmonize their rules to promote cryptocurrency innovation and rationalize margin collateral requirements in securities markets.
From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026
A writer also has to harmonize the tenses according to a scheme called sequence of tenses, tense agreement, or backshift.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
She harmonizes while he sketches out a new song called “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2025
The percussion swells, the clatter harmonizes and his romance collapses, leaving Rudy alone in his bedroom with a lamp attached to — oh dear — a Clapper.
From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2024
The color palette harmonizes with deep autumnal shades of browns and oranges, accented by the cheerful presence of green gourds.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 9, 2023
Frontman Tony Lewis's voice is dynamic and empathetic, and he frequently harmonizes with guitarist-keyboardist John Spinks, creating lovely vocal flourishes.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2023
And then Celia begins to laugh, a buoyant giggle that harmonizes with the din of the rain.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
The research team used harmonized survey data collected between 2009 and 2023 through the Gateway to Global Aging Data project.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
Other data include Italy’s CPI inflation data for January on Monday, final harmonized eurozone CPI data for January on Wednesday and eurozone money supply on Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
The harmonized annual rate of inflation decelerated to 3.0% in December from 3.2% in November.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025
Without harmonized reporting and uniform definitions, the data will not provide an accurate overview of political violence in the U.S.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2025
The last of these he favored mostly because as it aged its color evolved from that of old ivory to a golden honey hue that harmonized with the burnished red of the cedar hulls.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
If you’ve been on the internet in the past few months, chances are you’ve scrolled past them: four 20-somethings, clad in Pepto-pink velour track suits and yellow sneakers, dancing and harmonizing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026
Each element should layer on top of the others, sometimes harmonizing, sometimes clashing just enough to make every bite sing.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2025
Volman and high-school pal Howard Kaylan rose to fame with the ‘60s pop classic ‘Happy Together,’ then spent years as the harmonizing duo Flo & Eddie.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2025
Just after the Stellas were cast on the show, they shot to internet fame when a video of them harmonizing on a cover of Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend” went viral.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2024
And then Tiny takes a step forward and joins him, harmonizing, and they launch into the greatest musical song I've ever heard.
From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan
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.
