centralize

UK: /ˈsɛntrəlaɪz/ US: /ˈsɛntrəˌlaɪz/ ,(sen′trə līz′)

Inflections of 'centralize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

centralizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

centralizing

v pres p (US & UK)

centralized

v past (US & UK)

centralized

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cen•tral•ize /ˈsɛntrəˌlaɪz/   v., -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. to (cause to) come under one central control, esp. in government: [~ + object]
   to centralize the power of the military.
   [no object; often: ~ + in + object]
   Power tends to centralize in the hands of those who use it.

cen•tral•i•za•tion /ˌsɛntrələˈzeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cen•tral•ize  (sen′trə līz′), v., -ized, -iz•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to draw to or gather about a center.
2. to bring under one control, esp. in government:
   to centralize budgeting in one agency.

v.i. 

3. to come together at or to form a center.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] cen′tral•ise′. 

• central¹ + -ize 1790–1800

cen′tral•iz′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

centralize, centralise / ˈsɛntrəˌlaɪz/ verb

1. to draw or move (something) to or towards a centre
2. to bring or come under central control, esp governmental control

ˌcentraliˈzation, ˌcentraliˈsation noun