socialize

[ soh-shuh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing.

1. to make social; make fit for life in companionship with others.
2. to make socialistic; establish or regulate according to the theories of socialism.
3. Education. to treat as a group activity:

   to socialize spelling quizzes.

verb (used without object)

, so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing.

1. to associate or mingle sociably with others:

   to socialize with one's fellow workers.

socialize

/ ˈsəʊʃəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. intr to behave in a friendly or sociable manner
2. tr to prepare for life in society
3. tr to alter or create so as to be in accordance with socialist principles, as by nationalization

Derived Forms

• ˈsocialˌizer, noun
• ˈsocialˌizable, adjective

Other Words From

• social·iza·ble adjective
• social·izer noun
• over·social·ize verb (used with object) oversocialized oversocializing
• re·social·ize verb resocialized resocializing
• un·social·iza·ble adjective
• un·social·ized adjective
• un·social·izing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of socialize¹

First recorded in 1820–30; social + -ize

Example Sentences

Some cities, Daejeon and Gwangju among them, also have 4B-themed offline communities where followers can socialize through sports, book clubs or skills-building workshops.

From Los Angeles Times

But without the pandemic’s trifecta of urgency—keeping people healthy, saving the restaurant industry, and letting people socialize—cities have found it hard to effectively revise and maintain the programs they quickly put in place in 2020.

From Slate

He’s been like a surrogate guardian, something Kenneth, who was orphaned at age 10, has badly needed, even if the only person he’s been willing to socialize with is Bert.

From Los Angeles Times

A draft plan completed the following year envisioned a “downtown” for the 1,200 units of veteran housing to be built on the campus, a place where “veterans can socialize at a fitness center or cafe, participate in events in a public square, attend outdoor concerts, coordinate a volunteer effort, develop employment opportunities, visit a library, grab a bike to ride around the property or make plans for going to a movie at one of the campus theaters.”

From Los Angeles Times

Donning AR glasses could interfere with how people socialize in the physical world, making them feel less present, said Jeremy Bailenson, a Stanford University professor who founded the college’s virtual human interaction lab.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• entertain
• get around
• mingle