Definitions

1. verb

to bring a person or people to a higher level of social and cultural sophistication

“The city was established to civilize the savages and introduce them to modern ways of life.”

2. verb

to make (a place) more habitable or to make (land) more suitable for agriculture

“The government decided to civilize the desert by planting trees and building new settlements.”

3. noun

the act of civilizing

“The process of civilize was a gradual one, taking many years to complete.”

4. noun

the state of being civilized

“The country was in a state of civilized chaos, with people from all over the world living together.”