normalize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to make normal.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses ginseng to normalize blood pressure.
-
to cause (something previously considered abnormal or unacceptable) to be treated as normal.
I have to resist the impulse to normalize her eccentricities.
-
to establish or resume (relations) in a normal manner, as between countries.
-
Statistics. to mathematically transform or adjust (the values in a data set) so that they fit a standard measure or scale, such as by making all the values fall between 0 and 1.
Data was normalized before analysis.
-
Metallurgy. to heat (a steel alloy) to a suitable temperature above the transformation range and then cool it in still air at ambient temperature.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to bring or make into the normal state
-
to bring into conformity with a standard
-
to heat (steel) above a critical temperature and allow it to cool in air to relieve internal stresses; anneal
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of normalize
Explanation
If it's out of whack, totally crazy and absolutely bizarre, it should probably be normalized, or put back into a normal state. Something that's been normalized has been put back to normal, whether you're talking about the weather pattern or your sleep habits. Someone who likes to keep things in order is probably a fan of the word normalize. Stock brokers, for example, hate it when the stock market takes them on a wild, unpredictable ride; they'd much rather have things normalize and settle down.
Vocabulary lists containing normalize
Carrie Brownstein on "Inchoate" Youth and the Search for "Trenchant" Meaning
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Novel Study: Refugee, Pages 171–338
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Free Period
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
If the reopening of the key shipping route is delayed by several more weeks, oil markets might not fully normalize until 2027, according to Saudi Arabia’s national oil company.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
Opponents of Measure CB say it could normalize illegal businesses and give the city a financial incentive to keep them open.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
If the war eases and Gulf exporters’ operations normalize, the U.A.E.’s freedom to raise output would likely weigh on crude by increasing available supply and reducing confidence in OPEC’s ability to enforce discipline.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
In Goldman Sachs’ “adverse” scenario, Brent crude averages at just over $100 a barrel by the end of the year if exports from the Gulf normalize by the end of July.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
“I must point out that the move I have taken provides you with the opportunity to overcome the current deadlock, and to normalize the country’s political situation. I hope you will seize it without delay.”
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
