urbanize
verb
ur·ban·ize
ˈər-bə-ˌnīz 
urbanized; urbanizing
1
: to cause to take on urban characteristics
urbanized areas
2
: to impart an urban way of life to
urbanize migrants from rural areas
Examples of urbanize in a Sentence
every September the city of Boston urbanizes a new crop of college students from small towns across the country
Recent Examples on the Web
As cities urbanize and increase in density, more buildings and underground utilities become spaces for rats, and more food becomes available for rodents to eat.
—
Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Many cities have pushed back, arguing that so many more homes will more rapidly urbanize their suburban communities.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024
At the heart of this next revolution is Beijing's plan to urbanize 400 million people by 2030.
—Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2010
When Margarita Lugo de Castillo first started selling food from an outdoor stall here in 1945, this area had just begun to urbanize.
—Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
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Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Many cities have pushed back, arguing that so many more homes will more rapidly urbanize their suburban communities.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024
At the heart of this next revolution is Beijing's plan to urbanize 400 million people by 2030.
—Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2010
When Margarita Lugo de Castillo first started selling food from an outdoor stall here in 1945, this area had just begun to urbanize.
—Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for urbanize
Dictionary Entries Near urbanize
Cite this Entry
“Urbanize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urbanize. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
urbanize
verb
ur·ban·ize
ˈər-bə-ˌnīz
urbanized; urbanizing
1
: to cause to have an urban appearance
urbanized areas
2
: to cause to take on an urban way of life
urbanized the peasant population
urbanization
noun
ˌər-bə-nə-ˈzā-shən
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