naturalize
verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈna-ch(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 
naturalized; naturalizing
1
: to confer the rights of a national on
especially
: to admit to citizenship
2
: to introduce into common use or into the vernacular
3
: to bring into conformity with nature
4
: to cause (something, such as a plant) to become established as if native
: to become established as if native
Examples of naturalize in a Sentence
The government refused to naturalize them without documentation.
naturalized citizens of the U.S.
Several Asian fish have become naturalized in these lakes.
Before you naturalize bulbs in your lawn, fertilize well.
These daisies naturalize well in the Pacific Northwest.
Recent Examples on the Web
The United States government hosts the ceremonies year-round, but there is an extra flurry of activity during Constitution Week, in late September; this year, more than seventeen thousand new citizens were naturalized that week in some four hundred ceremonies across the country.
—
Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
In Arizona, where Biden defeated Trump in 2020 by just over 10,000 votes, over 31,000 citizens were naturalized over the period.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Thousands of people are naturalized in these states every year.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024
Navarro and Ji-Zhang are among the more than 3.5 million citizens naturalized since 2020 who have become eligible to vote.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for naturalize 
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Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
In Arizona, where Biden defeated Trump in 2020 by just over 10,000 votes, over 31,000 citizens were naturalized over the period.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Thousands of people are naturalized in these states every year.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024
Navarro and Ji-Zhang are among the more than 3.5 million citizens naturalized since 2020 who have become eligible to vote.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for naturalize
Articles Related to naturalize
Dictionary Entries Near naturalize
Cite this Entry
“Naturalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naturalize. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
naturalize
verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈnach-(ə-)rə-ˌlīz
naturalized; naturalizing
1
: to introduce into common use
naturalize a foreign word
2
: to become or cause to become established as if native
naturalized weeds
3
: to give the rights and privileges of citizenship to
naturalize a foreign-born person
Legal Definition
naturalize
transitive verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈna-chə-rə-ˌlīz
naturalized; naturalizing
: to admit (a person) to citizenship
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