internalize

UK: /ɪnˈtɜː^rnəlaɪz/ US: /ɪnˈtɝnəˌlaɪz/ ,(in tûr′nl īz′)

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

internalizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

internalizing

v pres p (US & UK)

internalized

v past (US & UK)

internalized

v past p (US & UK)

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

in•ter•nal•ize /ɪnˈtɜrnəˌlaɪz/  v. [~ + object] , -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. to take in (something from outside, as culture or moral values) and make it one's own:
   She has internalized many of the values of her parents.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•ter•nal•ize  (in tûr′nl īz′), v.t., -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. to incorporate (the cultural values, mores, motives, etc., of another or of a group), as through learning, socialization, or identification.
2. to make subjective or give a subjective character to.
3. Linguistics to acquire (a linguistic rule, structure, etc.) as part of one's language competence.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] in•ter′nal•ise′. 

• internal + -ize 1940–45

in•ter′nal•i•za′tion, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

internalize, internalise / ɪnˈtɜːnəˌlaɪz/ verb

1. (transitive) to make internal, esp to incorporate within oneself (values, attitudes, etc) through learning or socialization
   Also: interiorize

inˌternaliˈzation, inˌternaliˈsation noun