socialize

present singular third person socializes · participle present socializing · participle past socialized · past socialized · alternative socialise

1. intransitiveTo interact with others, especially personally, informally and off the clock rather than formally and officially.

   hoping to socialize a bit at the company holiday party

   3 more examples

   When socializing it's important that you never talk business unless they bring it up. If you do, you'll find out quickly that you're no longer invited to any of the really good reindeer games. Rather, be a good listener.

   2006, Christopher Duncan, “Managing Your Management”, in Dominic Shakeshaft, editor, The Career Programmer: Guerilla^([sic]) Tactics for an Imperfect World (The Expert’s Voice), 2nd edition, Berkeley, Calif.: Apress, →ISBN, part II (Guerilla Tactics for Front-line Programmers), page 171

   The UU is a great place to be on campus to socialize but when business needs to be taken care of the five story library is the place to be!

   2011, Sarah Parr, Cal Poly 2012

   Mr. Bach is an architect who, with his wife and professional partner, Anna Bach, regularly socializes with Ms. Aguirre and Mr. Ferrer.

   2024 November 15, Julie Lasky, “A Glass Addition Maximizes Light and Minimizes Exposure”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms: hang out

2. transitiveTo instruct (somebody), usually subconsciously and mostly by example, in the etiquette of a society.

   depending on how children are socialized regarding racial and ethnic biases

   1 more example

   That is, by way of this initial imprinting the young animal becomes a socialized member of its species. Animals misimprinted to other species show a variety of abnormal social behaviors as adults.

   1977, Dorothy Rogers, Issues in child psychology, page 62

   Synonyms: acculturate

3. transitiveTo take something into collective or governmental ownership.

   Near-synonym: nationalize

   1 more example

   fears about potential attempts to socialize medicine

   Synonyms: nationalize