popularize

1 of 2

verb

popularized; popularizing
Synonyms of popularizenext

intransitive verb

: to cater to popular taste

transitive verb

: to make popular: such as
a
: to cause to be liked or esteemed
a sitcom that popularized the phrase
b
: to present in generally understandable or interesting form
a popularized version of American history

popularization

2 of 2

noun

pop·​u·​lar·​iza·​tion
variants also British popularisation
ˌ⸗⸗lərə̇ˈzāshən, 
-ˌrīˈ-
plural -s
1
: an act of popularizing or the state of being popularized
with the popularization of the buggy … a demand rose for light harness—V. S. Clark
2
: something that is popularized
especially : a publication in terms comprehensible to the average man
divides the true folk tale from the popularization and that in turn from the work of art —Yale Review

Examples of popularize in a Sentence

Verb a phrase that was popularized by its use in a hit TV show Dream analysis was popularized by Sigmund Freud. The book presents a popularized version of American history.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Kardashian’s hair was styled in a Jackie O-esque beehive with angular shaping, a style popularized in the ’60s when Kennedy was the First Lady. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 But to be clear, Zucker and his company didn’t invent, or even popularize, breaking. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Soapy, salacious and steamy romance stories might have popularized the microdrama format globally, but the first episode of The Agency positions the series as an office comedy with quick cuts and wink-wink lines and visuals. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 Months later, the Renault Espace perfected and popularized the formula. — New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for popularize

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably borrowed from French populariser "to present in a favorable light, make popular," from populaire popular + -iser -ize

First Known Use

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of popularize was in 1593

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Cite this Entry

“Popularize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/popularize. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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