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.

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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

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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

Under my leadership, this council won’t externalize our policymaking authority.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 4, 2024

"The agribusiness system has relied on the ability to externalize these costs to downstream communities," said Tom Zimnicki, the Agricultural & Restoration Policy Director for the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

From Salon • Jul. 14, 2022

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

“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