Meanings
present singular third person capitalizes · participle present capitalizing · participle past capitalized · past capitalized · alternative capitalise
- transitiveIn 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.
In German, all nouns are capitalized.
- transitivebusinessTo contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for.
Some states require proof that a new venture is properly capitalized before the state will issue a certificate of incorporation.
1 more example
To have any hope of success a new venture must be properly capitalized.
1990 April 7, 9, “Irish Gay Mag To Begin Publication”, in Gay Community News, page 9 - transitivebusinessTo convert into capital, i.e., to get cash or similar immediately fungible resources for some less fungible property or source of future income.
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.
- intransitiveTo profit or to obtain an advantage.
The home team took several shots on goal but was unable to capitalize until late in the game.
1 more example
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.
1983, Wendy Griswold, “The Devil's Techniques: Cultural Legitimation and Social Change”, in American Sociological Review, volume 48, number 5, page 671a of 668–680 - intransitiveTo seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit from; to invest on something profitable.
The home team appeared to have the advantage throughout the game, and finally capitalized on their opponents' weakness with just two minutes remaining, scoring several points in quick succession.
Synonyms & antonyms
verbsupply with capital, as of a business by using a combination of capital used by investors and debt capital provided by lenders
verbcompute the present value of a business or an income
verbconsider expenditures as capital assets rather than expenses
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latincapitālis“of the head”
- Englishcapitalize
From capital + -ize, the first element ultimately from Latin capitālis (“of the head”).
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan capitalitzar, capitalitzar
- capitalitzarto have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business
- capitalitzarto seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
Finnish kirjoittaa isoin kirjaimin, rahoittaa
- kirjoittaa isoin kirjaiminIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- rahoittaato have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business
- pääomittaato have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business
- muuttaa rahaksito convert into capital
- rahastoidato treat as capital, not as an expense
- käyttää hyväkseento seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
- hyödyntääto seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
French capitaliser, capitaliser
- capitaliserIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- capitaliserto convert into capital
German großschreiben, kapitalisieren
- großschreibenIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- kapitalisierento convert into capital
- Profit schlagento seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
Greek κεφαλαιοποιώ
- κεφαλαιοποιώ (kefalaiopoió)to convert into capital
Hungarian nagybetűvel ír, nagy kezdőbetűvel ír
- nagybetűvel írIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- nagy kezdőbetűvel írIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
Italian trarre vantaggio
- trarre vantaggioto seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
Māori whakapūmatua, whakahua
- whakapūmatuaIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- whakahuato convert into capital
Polish pisać z dużej litery, pisać wielką literą
- pisać z dużej literyIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- pisać wielką literąIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- kapitalizowaćto have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business
- spieniężaćto convert into capital
- zyskiwaćto profit or to obtain an advantage
Portuguese maiusculizar, maiuscular
- maiusculizarIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- maiuscularIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
Romanian scrie cu majuscule, a scrie cu litere mari
- scrie cu majusculeIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- a scrie cu litere mariIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- capitalizato have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business
- capitalizato seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
Russian писа́ть прописны́ми бу́квами, писа́ть большы́ми бу́квами
- писа́ть прописны́ми бу́квами (pisátʹ propisnými búkvami)In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- писа́ть большы́ми бу́квами (pisátʹ bolʹšými búkvami)In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- извлека́ть вы́году (izvlekátʹ výgodu)to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
- воспо́льзоваться (vospólʹzovatʹsja)to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
Spanish escribir en mayúsculas, escribir con mayúscula inicial
- escribir en mayúsculasIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- escribir con mayúscula inicialIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
- mayusculizarIn writing or editing, to make use of capital letters
Swedish slå mynt av
- slå mynt avto seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
Turkish faydalanmak, istifade etmek
- faydalanmakto seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
- istifade etmekto seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
- yararlanmakto seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit
Cite this entry
capitalize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capitalize
“capitalize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capitalize. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “capitalize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capitalize.
Source: capitalize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.