gentrify

verb

gen·​tri·​fy ˈjen-trə-ˌfī How to pronounce gentrify (audio)
gentrified; gentrifying

transitive verb

: to attempt or accomplish the gentrification of
gentrified a run-down section of the city

intransitive verb

: to undergo gentrification
gentrifier
ˈjen-trə-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce gentrify (audio)
noun

Examples of gentrify in a Sentence

As the neighborhood became gentrified, the people who had lived there for many years could no longer afford it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Written by Robbins, Chicks is set in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods of old Boston. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 June 2026 In an ever-gentrifying city and neighborhood, places like these that preserve Catalan cuisine and culture become even more precious and important. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2026 But the 20% threshold applies only to downtown and heavily gentrifying areas. — Yunus Emre Tozal, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026 By keeping property taxes in check, these credits reduce tax burdens for low-income homeowners and protect owners in rapidly gentrifying areas. — Amanda Nothaft, The Conversation, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gentrify

Word History

Etymology

gentry + -ify (or as back-formation from gentrification)

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of gentrify was in 1972

Rhymes for gentrify

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Browse Nearby Words

gentrified
gentrify
gentry
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Cite this Entry

“Gentrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentrify. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gentrify

Nglish: Translation of gentrify for Spanish Speakers

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