revolutionize

verb

rev·​o·​lu·​tion·​ize ˌre-və-ˈlü-shə-ˌnīz 

revolutionized; revolutionizing

transitive verb

1

: to overthrow the established government of

2

: to imbue with revolutionary doctrines

3

: to change fundamentally or completely

revolutionize an industry

intransitive verb

: to engage in revolution

revolutionizer noun

Examples of revolutionize in a Sentence

The invention of the airplane revolutionized travel.

This new drug may revolutionize cancer treatment.

This discovery has revolutionized our understanding of how the human brain works.

Recent Examples on the Web

The company's founder, Sakichi Toyoda, revolutionized the textile industry with inventions that eased his mother's work on a manual loom. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 23 Feb. 2025

The Trade Desk revolutionized the way digital ad campaigns are bought, executed, and measured. —Stockstory Team, CNBC, 22 Feb. 2025

The £5 billion (US$6.3 billion) project is expected to revolutionize the handling of human waste in the British capital. —Adam Williams, New Atlas, 21 Feb. 2025

Fenty Beauty also revolutionized the makeup industry by ensuring beauty is for everyone, with a range of shades that made the beauty world more inclusive. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

revolution + -ize

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for revolutionize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise

Kids Definition

revolutionize

verb

rev·​o·​lu·​tion·​ize ˌrev-ə-ˈlü-shə-ˌnīz 

revolutionized; revolutionizing

1

: to overthrow the established government of

2

: to cause a person to become a revolutionist

3

: to change greatly or completely

an invention that revolutionized the industry

revolutionizer noun