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to externalize

to externalize

5 7.0
Show an inner thought or feeling so others can see it
  • verb
  • /ɪkˈstɜrnəˌlaɪz/
translation icon : externalizar
  • Many therapists encourage their clients to externalize their thoughts through journaling.
  • externalizing behavior
  • externalizing problems
  • externalizing disorders

I think it's because society externalizes our attention.

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Examples

  • So projection is when we take our own thoughts and feelings and we externalize them as coming from other people.

  • Using art can help you externalize your emotions in a tangible way.

  • How do I externalize this to achieve this thing that I want?

  • So it's necessary for force to to externalize or to express itself.

  • I think it's because society externalizes our attention.

  • It's like externalizing beyond yourself the sources of the things you need for yourself.

  • We have gotten so externalized that we have stopped going internal to see what it is that self is looking for.

  • And then you realise that actually you're, what you're doing is externalising what is inside.

  • But I'm hoping that doesn't influence you too much and you'll find your own ways of externalizing the internal.

  • You use notebooks, sketches, diagrams, models, prototypes to help externalize the products of your imagination.

Synonyms

to objectify
vsto externalize
2 7.4

To make an idea or feeling into a real, visible thing

is about treating inner experiences as external without making them concrete objects
to exteriorize
vsto externalize
  • Literature
9.0

To show your thoughts or feelings so others can see them

is about treating inner experiences as outside oneself and observable

Antonyms

37 6.7

To accept a belief so you think and act that way

How Externalized

to externalize
5 7.0
display
196 2.2
to express
2.3
to suppress
88 5.8
to hide
1.0

Surface Forms

externalize infinitive
externalized past participle
externalizing present participle
externalizes third person singular

Morphology

externalize = external (transparent) = external + ize

Standard verb formation from the adjective 'external' with '-ize' meaning 'make or treat as external', so the sense is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Externalize comes from the prefix ex- meaning 'out' and from external meaning 'outside', as in the simple word exit. So to externalize a thought or feeling is to 'move it out' of your inside and make it visible or clear to others.