contemporize

[ kuhn-tem-puh-rahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, con·tem·po·rized, con·tem·po·riz·ing.

1. to place in or regard as belonging to the same age or time.
2. to give a modern or contemporary character or setting to; update:

   The new production of Romeo and Juliet contemporizes it as the love of two modern teenagers in a Chicago high school.

verb (used without object)

, con·tem·po·rized, con·tem·po·riz·ing.

1. to be contemporary.

contemporize

/ kənˈtɛmpəˌraɪz /

verb

1. to be or make contemporary; synchronize

Word History and Origins

Origin of contemporize¹

1640–50; < Late Latin contempor- (stem of contemporāre to be at the same time), equivalent to con- con- + tempor- (stem of tempus time) + -ize

Example Sentences

Next on her agenda, she plans to contemporize works of Memphis-based photographer Ernest Withers for an upcoming show and to explore interactive and participatory art in her practice.

From Los Angeles Times

How can you contemporize a work whose very conceit — its whole plot, its central perspective — will land like a well-meaning but ignorant cousin’s comment in a conscientious cultural conversation?

From New York Times

“Howard has a rich legacy. … My responsibility is to contemporize that and to bring faculty to the university who are in the contemporary space, speaking to present-day issues.”

From Washington Times

Don’t get me wrong: The changes contemporize the tale and varnish it with another layer of realism.

From New York Times

I looked at a lot of images of women from the Black Panther movement with their Afros and fists raised and then contemporized the hairstyle to say we’re still fighting the same battle.

From New York Times