modernize
verb
mod·ern·ize
ˈmä-dər-ˌnīz 
modernized; modernizing
: to make modern (as in taste, style, or usage)
modernize a kitchen
: to adopt modern ways
Older companies need to modernize to survive in the new economy.
modernizer
noun
Examples of modernize in a Sentence
We're modernizing our kitchen with a new oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher.
The country recently announced plans to begin modernizing its army.
The school needs a building with modernized classrooms.
Older companies will need to modernize quickly if they are to survive in today's economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Portugal is a good example—after the dictatorship ended in 1974, there was a push to modernize, and many traditional crafts weren’t passed down.
—
Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
As part of a multiyear effort to consolidate these various legacy networks into a single architecture, Lumen tapped AI to simplify the network, modernize workflows, and streamline the disparate data that lives across its ecosystem.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Rather than seeking to modernize the text through flamboyant stylistic devices, director Gaël Morel offers a nuanced reinterpretation of its human relationships, focusing on how the characters interact, confront one another, and engage in dialogue.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
Kim has moved quickly to capitalize, pouring investment into modernizing his capital and inaugurating one tourist resort after another.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for modernize
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Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
As part of a multiyear effort to consolidate these various legacy networks into a single architecture, Lumen tapped AI to simplify the network, modernize workflows, and streamline the disparate data that lives across its ecosystem.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Rather than seeking to modernize the text through flamboyant stylistic devices, director Gaël Morel offers a nuanced reinterpretation of its human relationships, focusing on how the characters interact, confront one another, and engage in dialogue.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
Kim has moved quickly to capitalize, pouring investment into modernizing his capital and inaugurating one tourist resort after another.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for modernize
Cite this Entry
“Modernize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modernize. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
modernize
verb
mod·ern·ize
ˈmäd-ər-ˌnīz
modernized; modernizing
: to make or become modern
especially
: to change to suit present styles, tastes, or needs
modernization
noun
ˌmäd-ər-nə-ˈzā-shən
modernizer
noun
ˈmäd-ər-ˌnī-zər
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