Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To make an area more like a city or town in character, typically by increasing population density, constructing buildings and infrastructure, and introducing industrial or commercial activities.
   • To cause individuals or groups to adopt the habits, customs, or lifestyle typical of a city.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (transitive):
  • The government's plan to urbanise the rural region involved building new roads and housing complexes.
  • Rapid population growth can quickly urbanise a previously agricultural landscape.
  • Exposure to city life can urbanise people, changing their daily routines and social interactions.

Advanced Usage

• "to become urbanised" (often used in passive voice): Describes the process an area undergoes.
  • The coastal village has become increasingly urbanised over the past decade due to tourism.
• In ecological or sociological contexts, it can describe non-human adaptation.
  • Some wildlife species have been urbanised, learning to find food in human settlements.

Variants and Related Words

• Urbanize: The preferred spelling in American English. The word "urbanise" is the standard spelling in British English.
• Urbanisation (noun, British English) / Urbanization (noun, American English): The process of making or becoming urban.
  • The urbanisation of the area led to significant environmental changes.
• Urban (adjective): Relating to a city or town.
  • They prefer urban living to life in the countryside.

Synonyms

• Develop: To build on or improve land.
• Metropolitanize: To give a metropolitan character to (less common).
• Civilize: In some contexts, to bring to a more advanced social stage (broader and less precise).

Antonyms

• Ruralize: To make rural in character.
• Preserve: To maintain in an existing state, often to prevent urban development.

Verb

1. make more industrial or city-like
   • The area was urbanized after many people moved in
2. impart urban habits, ways of life, or responsibilities upon
   • Birds are being urbanized by people in outdoor cafes feeding them