verb (used with object), ur·ban·ized, ur·ban·iz·ing.
- to make or cause to become urban, as a locality.
verb (tr)
- (usually passive)
- to make (esp a predominantly rural area or country) more industrialized and urban
- to cause the migration of an increasing proportion of (rural dwellers) into cities
v.1640s, “to make more civil;” 1884 “to make into a city,” from urban + -ize; in the latter sense from French urbaniser (1873). Related: Urbanized; urbanizing.