externalize

American  

[ik-stur-nl-ahyz] / ɪkˈstɜr nlˌaɪz /

especially British, externalise

verb (used with object)

externalized, externalizing

1. to make external; embody in an outward form.

2. to regard as consisting of externals.

3. to regard or treat as being caused by externals; attribute to external causes.

   to externalize one's difficulties.

4. to direct (the personality) outward in social relationships.

---

externalize British  

/ ɪkˈstɪərɪəˌraɪz, ɪkˈstɜːnəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to make external; give outward shape to

2. psychol to attribute (one's own feelings) to one's surroundings

---

Other Word Forms

• externalization noun
• nonexternalized adjective
• semiexternalized adjective

Etymology

Origin of externalize

First recorded in 1850–55; external + -ize

Example Sentences

The unnamed protagonist, known in the scripts as “M,” was so complexly drawn that Weisz is now struggling to externalize the experience of playing her.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

We actually had to cut down quite a bit of the dialogue, the chatter, and so on, and externalize a lot of the interior emotions that Martha was feeling.

From The Verge • Jun. 5, 2022

But there are certain people that become so frenzied around human beings that are compelled to externalize their inner life, and there’s a jealousy thing that drives people crazy.

From Seattle Times • May 25, 2022

Instead of accepting personal responsibility for failure and defeat, these individuals externalize blame, attributing personal setbacks and failures to the shortcomings of others.

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2021

“That’s what I mean. You have to tell me everything, externalize it all for me, so I can write it.”

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen