US /ˈmɑdɚnaɪz/ UK /ˈmɒdənaɪz/
verb Freq #48201

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    To make something old or out of date more modern by changing it or adding new things.

    The company spent millions to modernize its old factories.

  2. 2
    verb

    To start using modern ways or technology.

    The country worked hard to modernize after the war.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to make something old or... updaterenovateupgraderenew
2 verb · to start using modern ways... develop
Word family
Forms modernizedmodernizesmodernizing
Derived forms demodernizemodernizablemodernizationmodernizedmodernizermodernizingovermodernizeunmodernize

Etymology

From modern + -ize or French moderniser.

View etymology graph ->

Topics

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