westernize — to adopt or cause to adopt the customs, culture, or political systems of Western countries
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to adopt or cause to adopt the customs, culture, or political systems of Western countries
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwestərnaɪz/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother refuses to westernize her cooking style - she still insists that pizza needs kimchi topping.
- The company decided to westernize its business practices to expand into European markets.
- He tried to westernize his traditional tea ceremony by adding coffee beans to the ritual.
westernize
VERB[/ˈwestərnaɪz/]
to adopt or cause to adopt the customs, culture, or political systems of Western countries
The Meiji-era tailor begins to westernize traditional robes into tailored suits.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Westernize emerged in the 19th century from the combination of 'Western' and the productive suffix '-ize'. The term gained prominence during periods of modernization, such as Japan's Meiji Restoration, to describe the process of adopting Western cultural, political, and technological practices.
Breakdown
Western (adjective, from West) + -ize (suffix meaning 'to make' or 'to cause to become'), literally 'to make Western'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother refuses to westernize her cooking style - she still insists that pizza needs kimchi topping.”
“The company decided to westernize its business practices to expand into European markets.”
“He tried to westernize his traditional tea ceremony by adding coffee beans to the ritual.”
“The government's efforts to westernize education included introducing new teaching methods.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.