-ize
- other
- Specialized
- The suffix -ize is added to nouns to create verbs like 'modernize' and 'organize'.
Examples
-
In American English, most verbs use the -ize ending rather than '-ise'.
-
Scientists often use -ize to form technical terms such as 'crystallize' or 'oxidize'.
-
They plan to modernize the old building.
-
Can you organize the files by tomorrow?
-
The suffix -ize is commonly used to create verbs such as 'realize' and 'utilize'.
-
You can -ize many adjectives to form verbs, for example, 'simplify' from 'simple'.
-
In English, to -ize a word means to turn it into a verb, like changing 'class' to 'classify'.
Synonyms
An ending added to words to show making or becoming something
Surface Forms
Etymology
-Ize comes from an old Greek ending that meant 'to make or do'. That's why, when you add -ize to a noun or adjective you make a verb like modernize or organize, meaning 'to make' modern or 'to make' orderly.