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Meaning & use

colonizing

verb·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈkɒlənaɪzɪŋ/
US/ˈkɑːlənaɪzɪŋ/

“colonizing” is a form of “colonize”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    Taking control of a distant territory and settling people there from the controlling country.

    Grammar: Takes an object: colonizing a region; the -ing form still needs something being colonized.

    Patterns

    • colonize a territory
    • colonize a planet
    • be colonized by someone

    The museum panel explained the violence behind colonizing distant lands.

    Dreams of colonizing Mars raise legal and ethical questions.

  2. verbtransitive or intransitivebiology

    Spreading into and establishing a population in a new place, said of plants, animals, or microorganisms.

    Grammar: Can take an object in scientific writing or stand alone: moss colonizing rocks.

    Patterns

    • species colonizing an area
    • bacteria colonizing a surface
    • colonize new habitat

    Barnacles are colonizing the abandoned pier.

    The study tracked fungi colonizing fallen logs.

Common combinations

colonizing power
The treaty names each former colonizing power.
colonizing a planet
Colonizing a planet would require food, air, law, and repair systems.
begin colonizing
In spring, ants begin colonizing the warm wall.

Synonyms and how they differ

settling
Settling can be peaceful and personal; colonizing usually includes political control.
occupying
Occupying stresses control by force but not necessarily sending settlers to live there.
establishing
Establishing is broader and neutral; colonizing has a specific territorial or biological expansion sense.

Opposites

decolonizing

Word family

colonize verb
To establish colonies or, in biology, to populate a new habitat.
colonization noun
The process of taking control and settling, or biological establishment.
colonizer noun
A person, country, or organism that colonizes.
colony noun
A territory under control or a group living together, as in an ant colony.
colonial adjective
Connected with colonies or the period of colonization.

Commonly confused: colonizing or settle? colonizing or colonising?

colonizing vs settle

Settle means make a home or resolve something; colonize adds control over a territory or biological spread into a habitat.

colonizing vs colonising

Colonising is the common British spelling with s; colonizing is the standard American spelling.

Practice

Which word best fits the meaning of political control? In the 1800s, several European powers were ___ large parts of Africa.

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