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
In the audience for Ramo was her platoon leader, 2nd Lt. Jacob Han – born in South Korea, naturalized as a US citizen in Philadelphia.
—
Mike Valerio, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024
Most of the ingredients for the doughnuts are imported from the States, said Choi Sung Ha, manager of the Army Air Force Exchange (AAFES) Bakery on Camp Humphreys, who is also an Army veteran and naturalized American.
—Mike Valerio, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024
The English press praised the book, but a few Irish writers objected to the ways the bog poems seemed to naturalize the Troubles, attributing the conflict to an ancient curse rather than to real and ongoing political oppression.
—Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
Mon Laferte’s documentary arrives as the Chilean star — and naturalized Mexican, as of November 2022 — continues her Autopoiética Tour in support of her 2023 album of the same name.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for naturalize 
Mike Valerio, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024
Most of the ingredients for the doughnuts are imported from the States, said Choi Sung Ha, manager of the Army Air Force Exchange (AAFES) Bakery on Camp Humphreys, who is also an Army veteran and naturalized American.
—Mike Valerio, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024
The English press praised the book, but a few Irish writers objected to the ways the bog poems seemed to naturalize the Troubles, attributing the conflict to an ancient curse rather than to real and ongoing political oppression.
—Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
Mon Laferte’s documentary arrives as the Chilean star — and naturalized Mexican, as of November 2022 — continues her Autopoiética Tour in support of her 2023 album of the same name.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for naturalize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'naturalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Naturalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naturalize. Accessed 1 Oct. 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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