Word
humanize
Phoneticshu·man·ize, stress on the first syllable
/ˈhjuməˌnaɪz/
UK spelling · humanise
Definition
v. to make someone or something seem more like a real person, especially by showing their feelings or personality.
v. to portray or treat a person, group, or abstract entity in a way that emphasizes their individual human qualities and emotions. Often used in the context of media or technology to make something appear more relatable.
Examples
“The documentary helps to humanize the people living in the war zone.”
“The author uses personal anecdotes to humanize the historical figures, making their political decisions feel more grounded in emotion.”
“By incorporating user-centric design and conversational interfaces, developers aim to humanize the software, fostering a sense of empathy between the machine and the end user.”
Examples
simple
“The documentary helps to humanize the people living in the war zone.”
contextual
“The author uses personal anecdotes to humanize the historical figures, making their political decisions feel more grounded in emotion.”
complex
“By incorporating user-centric design and conversational interfaces, developers aim to humanize the software, fostering a sense of empathy between the machine and the end user.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “humanize” in context.
Verb
01. attempt to humanize
“The documentary attempts to humanize the victims of the conflict.”
verb + prep + verb
02. help humanize
“Sharing personal anecdotes can help humanize a public figure.”
verb + verb
03. serve to humanize
“These candid photos serve to humanize the otherwise stern leader.”
verb + prep + verb
Noun
04. humanize brand
“Social media allows companies to humanize their brand through direct interaction.”
verb + noun
05. humanize character
“The author uses flashbacks to humanize the story's antagonist.”
verb + noun
06. humanize image
“The PR campaign was designed to humanize his corporate image.”
verb + noun
07. humanize process
“We need to humanize the recruitment process to attract better talent.”
verb + noun
08. effort to humanize
“In an effort to humanize the CEO, the magazine published a family interview.”
09. humanize an otherwise abstract
“The case study helped humanize an otherwise abstract economic theory.”
10. humanize the face of
“The initiative aims to humanize the face of modern medicine.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“Humanizing your AI-generated content is important because you want it to be engaging to humans while making fair claims and providing accurate, helpful information to your audience.” “When it comes to the type of humour you might want to try out on your workmates, Prof Schweitzer says that self-deprecation "can be effective" because it humanises the joke-teller.” Etymology
First recorded in the mid-18th century, formed from the noun human and the suffix -ize.
From humane + -ize.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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