Definition

To change an area to have characteristics of a city, such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure.

Example

The government plans to urbanize the rural areas to improve living conditions.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you noticed how they plan to urbanize the area near the park?

Yeah, I saw that in the news last week. It’s a big change.

I wonder how that will affect the community we grew up in.

I hope they keep some green spaces, even as they urbanize.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Urbanize → It is formed from "urban" (from Latin "urbanus", meaning of or pertaining to a city) and "-ize" (meaning to make or to become). The word "urbanize" means to make something more like a city or to develop urban characteristics.

Memory Tip

Think of making something more like a city — 'urban' relates to city life, and '-ize' means to make. This helps you remember that urbanize means to develop urban features.

Visually Confused Words