socialize
Americanverb (used with object)
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socializes,
present (3rd person singular)
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socialized,
past participle, past
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socializing
present participle
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to make social; make fit for life in companionship with others.
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to make socialistic; establish or regulate according to the theories of socialism.
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Education. to treat as a group activity.
to socialize spelling quizzes.
verb (used without object)
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socializes,
present (3rd person singular)
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socialized,
past participle, past
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socializing
present participle
verb
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(intr) to behave in a friendly or sociable manner
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(tr) to prepare for life in society
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(tr) to alter or create so as to be in accordance with socialist principles, as by nationalization
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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socializernoun
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resocializeverb
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oversocializeverb (used with object)
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socializableadjective
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unsocializableadjective
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unsocializedadjective
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unsocializingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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socializesimple
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socializessimple
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have socializedperfect
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has socializedperfect
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am socializingprogressive
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are socializingprogressive
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is socializingprogressive
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have been socializingperfect progressive
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has been socializingperfect progressive
Past
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socializedsimple
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had socializedperfect
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was socializingprogressive
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were socializingprogressive
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had been socializingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of socialize
Explanation
When you socialize, you participate in activities in a group setting. If you have been studying alone for some time, you might take a break at the coffee shop to socialize with some friends. You can socialize somebody else, or educate her in social patterns. Parents socialize their kids through their upbringing, and clubs often socialize their members through a uniform. If you want to hang out with motorcyclists, you might want to dress in leather. It is also possible to socialize institutions, where benefits are open to a wide section of society. If voters socialize medicine, that service becomes available to all at government expense.
Vocabulary lists containing socialize
"Curtis Aikens and the American Dream" and "Go For It!"
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"La Vida Robot" and "Reading, Writing and... Recreation"
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 5–February 11, 2022
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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:
They need to socialize a language of accountability that promotes rule of law, democracy, and due process while eschewing talk of retribution, retaliation, or political payback.
From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2026
As you age, you may face limitations on your ability to exert agency, socialize often and embrace a cause.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
The 36-year-old said the crop of new clubs attract young people looking for spaces to work, socialize and network.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Desperate to help her socialize, Bonnie’s parents weigh the costs of getting her a tablet, reluctantly adding one to their cart.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
Most kids probably liked to use their lunch period to, I don’t know, eat lunch and socialize and all that.
From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling
Plus, the U.S.-Iran talks are set to start tomorrow, and Gen Z socializes at barres, not bars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
He works in an office plaza, lives in a shoebox apartment with vellum-thin walls and socializes at his choice of nearby casual dining establishments with names like Flingers and Chotchkie's Bar & Grill.
From Salon ● Mar. 1, 2024
The group shoots and socializes near the Spheres for 15 minutes before embarking on a walk through downtown.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2023
Mr. Khan socializes with F.B.I. agents, prison guards, military lawyers and top prison officials during “religious feasts, social meetings and meetings regarding detention-related issues,” Colonel Jemmott said in an affidavit.
From New York Times ● Aug. 9, 2022
I start to see that the Internet is the way she travels; the way she socializes; the way she feels like part of things.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
She understands why some people might struggle with cats’ independent nature and the fact that they’re not socialized like dogs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
People who engage in romantic relationships with men — women, femmes, gay men, etc. — are socialized to be ever-forgiving, to have infinite patience and compassion.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
I was socialized in the crucible of millennial progressivism.
From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2026
Men — and this is not an excuse — are often not socialized to step in on these terms.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 29, 2025
The point is not that without that salon blacks wouldn’t have socialized with whites on the North Side.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
But as they—and the estimated 54.4 million children enrolled in K–12 schools in the United States—transition from open-ended summer days to structured school days, they’ll be spending less time outside or socializing freely with friends.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
So after reading what felt like the hundredth article declaring that my generation had abandoned alcohol, nightlife and socializing altogether, I started wondering whether I was missing something.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
The findings suggest that everyday patterns, such as waking, eating, working, socializing, and going to bed at similar times, may support better overall well-being.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026
And by the end of my night, strangers were socializing, showing off their painted cookie creations, sharing Banksy tidbits and asking for recommendations on various vinaigrette combinations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Our days in Baltimore were busy with socializing and eavesdropping, not to mention dressing up in our fine gowns.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
