mobilize

American

[moh-buh-lahyz] / ˈmoʊ bəˌlaɪz /

especially British, mobilise

verb (used with object)

mobilized, mobilizing

to assemble or marshal (armed forces, military reserves, or civilian persons of military age) into readiness for active service.
to organize or adapt (industries, transportation facilities, etc.) for service to the government in time of war.
to marshal, bring together, prepare (power, force, wealth, etc.) for action, especially of a vigorous nature.

to mobilize one's energy.
to increase or bring to a full stage of development.

to mobilize one's anger.

verb (used without object)

mobilized, mobilizing

to be or become assembled, organized, etc., as for war.

to mobilize for action.

mobilize British

/ ˈməʊbɪˌlaɪz /

verb

to prepare for war or other emergency by organizing (national resources, the armed services, etc)
(tr) to organize for a purpose; marshal
(tr) to put into motion, circulation, or use

"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

Other Word Forms

mobilizable adjective
mobilization noun
mobilizer noun
overmobilize verb
remobilize verb
unmobilized adjective

Etymology

Origin of mobilize

First recorded in 1830–40; back formation from mobilization; mobile, -ization

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.

"That's why we are here, that's why people decided to mobilize for this and decided to donate."

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

"Our strong army depends on our strong economy, because all of our resources, which we mobilize internally, we channel... to defend our nation," he says.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

Its vast merchant fleet and logistics industry play dual roles supporting the People’s Liberation Army’s ability to mobilize and carry domestic factory production to shoppers worldwide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Tehran could also mobilize paramilitary groups it cultivated in the region, including Iraqi militias and Yemen’s Houthis, Talé added.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026

The success of a scientific research programme thus depends not on its ability to generate new knowledge but on its ability to mobilize the support of a community.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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