civilize verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced American Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of civilize verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

civilize

verb

NAmE//ˈsɪvəˌlaɪz//

civilize somebody/somethingVerb Forms present simple I / you / we / they civilize

he / she / it civilizes

past simple civilized

-ing form civilizing

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to educate and improve a person or a society; to make someone's behavior or manners better The girls in a class tend to have a civilizing influence on the boys.

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Nearby words

civility noun
civilization noun
civilize verb
civilized adjective
civil law noun