as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants
believes that someday humans will be sent to colonize Mars
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Recent Examples of colonize
This lines up with when colonizing Greeks were believed to have introduced viticulture — cultivating grapevines — to France, after founding the city of Marseille.
—
CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
In those earlier pictures, metaphysical conceits became visual and dramatic gambits as the filmmakers set out to colonize the vast interior worlds of, respectively, the mind and the spirit.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Legend has it that pirates let pigs colonize the island to create their own personal food source, but now their Instagrammability draws a steady stream of day-trippers from Nassau.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
The mythologies of the medical ass could blossom, like the oral folklore of a tribe allowed to retain its own myths without the colonizing interference of invaders.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for colonize
CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
In those earlier pictures, metaphysical conceits became visual and dramatic gambits as the filmmakers set out to colonize the vast interior worlds of, respectively, the mind and the spirit.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Legend has it that pirates let pigs colonize the island to create their own personal food source, but now their Instagrammability draws a steady stream of day-trippers from Nassau.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
The mythologies of the medical ass could blossom, like the oral folklore of a tribe allowed to retain its own myths without the colonizing interference of invaders.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for colonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonize
Verb
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Visit the Indigenous Bribri community, which has inhabited Talamanca for thousands of years.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
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The Tokara Leaf Warbler inhabits the Tokara Islands, located approximately 621 miles to the southwest.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The photos of those, and future submissions, will populate a gallery on the foundation’s website and will be highlighted on its social media platforms.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
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Within 24 hours of paying your invoice, your parking passes will populate in your Inter Miami CF App and Account Manager page.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The paradox of this quartet of movies up for the new casting Oscar, all boldly peopled with nonprofessionals, is that this very practice has become professionalized.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
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Why can’t people RSVP properly for goodness’ sake?—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonize. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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