motorize

verb

mo·​tor·​ize ˈmō-tə-ˌrīz How to pronounce motorize (audio)
motorized; motorizing

transitive verb

1
: to equip with a motor
2
: to equip with motor vehicles
motorization
ˌmō-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce motorize (audio)
noun

Examples of motorize in a Sentence

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.
Except these bikes are motorized, can reach speeds of up to 30 mph, have three wheels, and seat up to 6 people. — Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2026 If the bikes are fully motorized they are prohibited on roadways. — Mary Ella Hastings june 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026 His other great love was race car driving, a passion that began with racing go-karts at 11 and blossomed into a life-long love of all things motorized. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026 This is motorized like the rear seats, and supports pulling 750kg unbraked or a generous 2,400kg braked. — James Morris, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for motorize

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of motorize was circa 1913

Rhymes for motorize

See All Rhymes for motorize

Browse Nearby Words

motorization
motorize
motorized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

motorize

verb
mo·​tor·​ize ˈmōt-ə-ˌrīz How to pronounce motorize (audio)
motorized; motorizing
1
: to equip with a motor
2
: to equip with motor-driven vehicles for transportation
motorized troops
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All