Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [siv-uh-lahyz]
- /ˈsɪv əˌlaɪz/
- /ˈsɪv.ɪ.laɪz/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [siv-uh-lahyz]
- /ˈsɪv əˌlaɪz/
Definitions of civilize word
- verb civilize To civilize a person or society means to educate them and improve their way of life. 3
- verb civilize to bring out of savagery or barbarism into a state characteristic of civilization 3
- verb civilize to refine, educate, or enlighten 3
- verb transitive civilize to bring or come out of a primitive or savage condition and into a state of civilization 3
- verb transitive civilize to improve in habits or manners; refine 3
- verb with object civilize to bring out of a savage, uneducated, or rude state; make civil; elevate in social and private life; enlighten; refine: Rome civilized the barbarians. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of civilize
First appearance:
before 1595 One of the 38% oldest English words
1595-1605; < French civiliser; see civil, -ize
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Civilize
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
civilize popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 65% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
civilize usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for civilize
verb civilize
- acquaint — If you acquaint someone with something, you tell them about it so that they know it. If you acquaint yourself with something, you learn about it.
- sophisticate — a sophisticated person.
- tame — changed from the wild or savage state; domesticated: a tame bear.
- humanize — to make humane, kind, or gentle.
- refine — to bring to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities: to refine metal, sugar, or petroleum.
Antonyms for civilize
verb civilize
- mislead — to lead or guide wrongly; lead astray.
- decrease — When something decreases or when you decrease it, it becomes less in quantity, size, or intensity.
- condemn — If you condemn something, you say that it is very bad and unacceptable.
- demote — If someone demotes you, they give you a lower rank or a less important position than you already have, often as a punishment.
- worsen — Make or become worse.
Top questions with civilize
- what does civilize mean?
- what is the meaning of civilize?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with c
- Words starting with ci
- Words starting with civ
- Words starting with civi
- Words starting with civil
- Words starting with civili
- Words starting with civiliz
- Words starting with civilize