revolutionize

1 of 2

verb

rev·​o·​lu·​tion·​ize ˌre-və-ˈlü-shə-ˌnīz How to pronounce revolutionize (audio)
revolutionized; revolutionizing
Synonyms of revolutionizenext

transitive verb

1
: to overthrow the established government of
2
: to imbue with revolutionary doctrines
3
: to change fundamentally or completely
revolutionize an industry

intransitive verb

: to engage in revolution
revolutionizer noun

revolutionizer

2 of 2

noun

rev·​o·​lu·​tion·​iz·​er
variants also British revolutioniser
-zə(r)
plural -s
: one that revolutionizes
revolutionizer of heavy industry

Examples of revolutionize in a Sentence

Verb The invention of the airplane revolutionized travel. This new drug may revolutionize cancer treatment. This discovery has revolutionized our understanding of how the human brain works.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
In the 1940s, the development of jet propulsion revolutionized aviation with faster, more efficient aircraft. — Adam Stone, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Because in the early 1900s, Greek sponge divers came from the Dodecanese islands and revolutionized the sponge industry on Florida’s gulf coast. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Enacted in 1972, the law has revolutionized women's sports by requiring equal treatment for male and female athletes, including proportional scholarship funding and equal facilities. — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 30 June 2026 After fundamentally changing science more than a century ago, modern physics may be about to revolutionize the world of computers – with implications for everything from the speed of doing complex research to nations’ vulnerability to cyberattack. — Donald Keough, Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for revolutionize

Word History

Etymology

Verb

revolution + -ize

First Known Use

Verb

1797, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of revolutionize was in 1797

Rhymes for revolutionize

See All Rhymes for revolutionize

Browse Nearby Words

revolutionist
revolutionize
revolutionizer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

revolutionize

verb
rev·​o·​lu·​tion·​ize ˌrev-ə-ˈlü-shə-ˌnīz How to pronounce revolutionize (audio)
revolutionized; revolutionizing
1
: to overthrow the established government of
2
: to cause a person to become a revolutionist
3
: to change greatly or completely
an invention that revolutionized the industry
revolutionizer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on revolutionize

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for revolutionize

Nglish: Translation of revolutionize for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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