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Definition of generalize verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

generalize

verb
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪz/
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪz/
(British English also generalise)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they generalize
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪz/
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪz/
he / she / it generalizes
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪzɪz/
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪzɪz/
past simple generalized
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪzd/
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪzd/
past participle generalized
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪzd/
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪzd/
-ing form generalizing
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪzɪŋ/
 
/ˈdʒenrəlaɪzɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] generalize (from something) to use a particular set of facts or ideas in order to form an opinion that is considered relevant to a different situation
    • It would be foolish to generalize from a single example.
    • We cannot generalize from these few examples.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + generalize
    • can
    • be easy to
    • be possible to
    preposition
    • about
    • from
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive] generalize (about something) to make a general statement about something and not look at the details
    • It is dangerous to generalize about people on low incomes.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + generalize
    • can
    • be easy to
    • be possible to
    preposition
    • about
    • from
    See full entry
  3. [transitive, often passive] (formal) to apply a theory, idea, etc. to a wider group or situation than the original one
    • be generalized (to something) These conclusions cannot be generalized to the whole country.
    • generalize something (to something) We are now in a position to generalize the lessons we have learnt.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + generalize
    • can
    • be easy to
    • be possible to
    preposition
    • about
    • from
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘reduce to a general statement’): from general + -ize.
See generalize in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee generalize in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
dizzy
adjective
 
 
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C1
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