capitalize
/ˈkæpətəˌlaɪz/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.34 in modern English
23
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
In writing or editing, to write (something: either an entire word or text, or just the initial letter(s) thereof) in capital letters, in upper case.
Transitive verb
verb
To convert into capital, i.e., to get cash or similar immediately fungible resources for some less fungible property or source of future income.
Transitive verb
verb
To seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit from; to invest on something profitable.
Intransitive verb
Example Sentences
- "In German, all nouns are capitalized."
- "Some states require proof that a new venture is properly capitalized before the state will issue a certificate of incorporation."
- "To have any hope of success a new venture must be properly capitalized."
- "If we obtain a loan using the business as collateral, the effect will be to capitalize our next ten years of income, giving us cash today that we can use to buy out our competitor."
- "The home team took several shots on goal but was unable to capitalize until late in the game."
- "In early morality plays, there appeared several vices representing some of the deadly sins, such as Covetousness, Lust, or Pride. Later plays, particularly those performed between 1560 and 1575, featured a single, composite character labelled as "the Vice" (Miyajima, 1977). The Vice, like the Devil, operated by capitalizing on observed human vulnerability."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin