dramatize

verb

dra·​ma·​tize ˈdra-mə-ˌtīz  ˈdrä- 

dramatized; dramatizing

transitive verb

1

: to adapt (something, such as a novel) for theatrical presentation

2

: to present or represent in a dramatic manner

intransitive verb

1

: to be suitable for dramatization

2

: to behave dramatically

dramatizable

ˈdra-mə-ˌtī-zə-bəl 

ˈdrä-

adjective

Examples of dramatize in a Sentence

The movie dramatizes her early life.

The book is dramatized in a new play.

I know I tend to dramatize things but it really was awful.

She cited a series of statistics to dramatize the seriousness of the problem.

This tragedy dramatizes the need for improvements in highway safety.

Recent Examples on the Web

The film dramatizes the Štrpci massacre of 1993, when 24 Bosniak Muslims were pulled off a train by a Serbian paramilitary group and only one man, the Croatian Tomo Buzov, stood up against the attackers. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2024

Bob Dylan is weighing in publicly for the first time on an upcoming biopic set to dramatize his early career. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024

Part of the challenge here was to dramatize waiting. —Dennis Zhou, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024

The show dramatizes the lives of Erik and Lyle, who say they were abused by their parents throughout their childhoods. —William Earl, Variety, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

dramat-, stem in derivation of drama + -ize

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

dramatize

verb

dram·​a·​tize

ˈdram-ə-ˌtīz,

ˈdräm-

1

: to make into a drama

2

: to present or represent in a dramatic manner

dramatization

ˌdram-ət-ə-ˈzā-shən

ˌdräm-

noun