westernize

American  

[wes-ter-nahyz] / ˈwɛs tərˌnaɪz /

especially British, westernise

verb (used with object)

westernized, westernizing

1. to influence with ideas, customs, practices, etc., characteristic of Europe and North America.

---

westernize British  

/ ˈwɛstəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to influence or make familiar with the customs, practices, etc, of the West

---

Other Word Forms

• unwesternized adjective
• westernization noun

Etymology

Origin of westernize

First recorded in 1830–40; western + -ize

Example Sentences

Imperial biographer Robert K. Massie paints a satisfying portrait of Catherine the woman and Catherine the ruler, and her attempts to modernize and westernize Russia.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2020

Meanwhile, throughout the production the “Death Note” team dealt with criticism from fans of the Ohba/Obata manga, resentful of Wingard and company’s attempt to westernize a Japanese creation.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2017

For better or for worse, Peter the Great had tried to westernize and reform the culture and government of Russia.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2012

For a precedent, Sobchak turns to the city's founder, Peter the Great, the Czar who set out to westernize the backward Russian Empire.

From Time Magazine Archive

Da Gama and Albuquerque began a movement, which still continues, to "westernize" Asia by opening it up to European influence.

From Early European History by Webster, Hutton