Synonyms

urbanize

American

[ur-buh-nahyz] / ˈɜr bəˌnaɪz /

especially British, urbanise

verb (used with object)

to make or cause to become urban, as a locality.

urbanize British

/ ˈɜːbəˌnaɪz /

verb

(usually passive)
1. to make (esp a predominantly rural area or country) more industrialized and urban
2. to cause the migration of an increasing proportion of (rural dwellers) into cities

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Present

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Etymology

Origin of urbanize

First recorded in 1635–45; urban + -ize

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.

Emerging markets over the longterm will continue to urbanize along with rising incomes.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

It was such an incredible moment to mobilize the whole country to urbanize.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Many cities have pushed back, arguing that so many more homes will more rapidly urbanize their suburban communities.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2024

The state’s troubles also hold lessons for massive economies including China and India, major carbon emitters that hope to control pollution from vehicles as they rapidly urbanize.

From Reuters • Feb. 1, 2019

In this way little effort is required of the city in order to steal more farmland and urbanize it.

From Down with the Cities by Nakashima, Tadashi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023