Definition

1. Verb:
   • To have or exploit a monopoly of: To possess or control the entire supply of a particular commodity or service, excluding others from participating.
   • To have and control fully and exclusively: To dominate, use, or occupy something to the exclusion of others, preventing them from sharing it.

Usage and Examples

• To have or exploit a monopoly of:

  • The company was accused of trying to monopolise the market for operating systems.
  • Historically, some kings sought to monopolise the trade in certain spices.

• To have and control fully and exclusively:

  • He tends to monopolise the conversation, never letting anyone else speak.
  • Please don't monopolise the printer; others need to use it too.

Advanced Usage

• "To monopolise someone's attention/time": To demand and receive all of a person's attention or time, leaving none for others.
  • The urgent project monopolised the manager's attention for the entire week.

Variants and Related Words

• Monopolisation (noun): The process or result of monopolising.
  • The monopolisation of the industry led to higher prices.
• Monopolist (noun): A person or company that has a monopoly.
  • The monopolist faced new regulations.
• Monopoly (noun): The exclusive possession or control of the supply of a good or service.
  • The government broke up the telecommunications monopoly.

Synonyms

• Dominate: To have a commanding influence over.
• Corner: To gain control of the whole supply of a commodity.
• Hog (informal): To use or take something selfishly or greedily.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Constructions

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "To have a monopoly on something": To be the only one who has or controls something, or the only one who does something.
  • She doesn't have a monopoly on good ideas.

Verb

1. have or exploit a monopoly of
   • OPEC wants to monopolize oil
2. have and control fully and exclusively
   • He monopolizes the laser printer