civilize

[ siv-uh-lahyz ]

/ ˈsɪv əˌlaɪz /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR civilize ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), civ·i·lized, civ·i·liz·ing.

to bring out of a savage, uneducated, or rude state; make civil; elevate in social and private life; enlighten; refine: Rome civilized the barbarians.

Also especially British, civ·i·lise.

Origin of civilize

1595–1605; < French civiliser; see civil, -ize

SYNONYMS FOR civilize

educate, teach, instruct, polish, sophisticate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR civilize ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM civilize

civ·i·liz·a·ble, adjective civ·i·liz·a·to·ry

[siv-uh-lahy-zuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˌsɪv əˈlaɪ zəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective civ·i·liz·er, noun de·civ·i·lize, verb (used with object), de·civ·i·lized, de·civ·i·liz·ing.

non·civ·i·liz·a·ble, adjective o·ver·civ·i·lize, verb, o·ver·civ·i·lized, o·ver·civ·i·liz·ing. un·civ·i·liz·a·ble, adjective un·civ·i·lize, verb (used with object), un·civ·i·lized, un·civ·i·liz·ing.

Words nearby civilize

civilian conservation corps, civilian review board, civilianize, civility, civilization, civilize, civilized, civilly, civils, civism, civitan

Example sentences from the Web for civilizing

Putin preys on the fact that the West thinks money and sport are neutral, or at least civilizing influences.

Best Way to Punish Putin? No World Cup |Tunku Varadarajan |July 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We will not make our society more civilized by detaching one of our central institutions from its civilizing task.

Obama’s Gay-Marriage Endorsement: Five Great Opinion Reads |Caitlin Dickson |May 10, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
As agents of Nazi empire-building, these women were assigned the constructive work of the German “civilizing” process.

Hitler’s Killer Women Revealed in New History |Wendy Lower |October 6, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
It is there that our civilizing commenced, and I am particularly fond of hearing the call.

Diana of the Crossways, Complete |George Meredith

Only they go now as a civilizing as well as a devastating influence.

The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 5 |Various
We talk of civilizing the Indian, but that is not the name for his improvement.

The Night-Born |Jack London
For this backward race missionaries of all denominations have done a vast amount of educating and civilizing work.

A Civil Servant in Burma |Herbert Thirkel White
The whole continent is parcelled out among different nations, who have assumed the task of civilizing their respective spheres.

Origin of the Anglo-Boer War Revealed (2nd ed.) |C. H. Thomas

British Dictionary definitions for civilizing

civilize

civilise

/ (ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to bring out of savagery or barbarism into a state characteristic of civilization

to refine, educate, or enlighten

Derived forms of civilize

civilizable or civilisable, adjective civilizer or civiliser, noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

civilize

verb (used with object), civ·i·lized, civ·i·liz·ing.

Origin of civilize

SYNONYMS FOR civilize

OTHER WORDS FROM civilize

Words nearby civilize

Example sentences from the Web for civilizing

British Dictionary definitions for civilizing

civilise

verb (tr)

Derived forms of civilize

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

civilize

verb (used with object), civ·i·lized, civ·i·liz·ing.

Origin of civilize

SYNONYMS FOR civilize

OTHER WORDS FROM civilize

Words nearby civilize

Words related to civilizing

Example sentences from the Web for civilizing

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civilise

verb (tr)

Derived forms of civilize

British Dictionary definitions for civilizing