revolutionize

verb

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

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

Examples of revolutionize in a Sentence

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This flagship observatory aims to revolutionize astronomy by mapping over two billion galaxies, discovering 100,000 exoplanets, and investigating dark energy and dark matter. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 It's also equipped with the first active coronagraph to be used in space, which will revolutionize exoplanet studies. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Often compared to the iconic Hubble Space Telescope, the Roman observatory is expected to revolutionize humanity’s understanding of the universe — and our place in it. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026 In their discussions, economists and policymakers debated the regulatory challenges in a world where tokenization is revolutionizing how financial assets are held and transferred. — Maria Eloisa Capurro, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for revolutionize

Word History

Etymology

revolution + -ize

First Known Use

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 1 Sep. 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

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