English Reference

Word

mobilize

Phoneticsmo·bi·lize, stress on the first syllable

/ˈmoʊbəˌɫaɪz/

UK spelling · mobilise

Definition

v. to organize people or resources so they are ready to take action. You use this when preparing for a big task, a protest, or a war.

v. to assemble and organize resources, people, or military forces for active service or a specific purpose. Transitive when referring to the act of organizing others; occasionally intransitive when describing a group preparing itself for action.

Examples

“The charity worked hard to mobilize volunteers for the food drive.”

“The community began to mobilize against the new development plan by organizing a series of town hall meetings.”

“In response to the sudden economic downturn, the government attempted to mobilize all available fiscal resources to prevent a total collapse of the banking sector.”

Examples

simple

“The charity worked hard to mobilize volunteers for the food drive.”

contextual

“The community began to mobilize against the new development plan by organizing a series of town hall meetings.”

complex

“In response to the sudden economic downturn, the government attempted to mobilize all available fiscal resources to prevent a total collapse of the banking sector.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mobilize” in context.

Verb

01. mobilize public opinion

“Activists are working hard to mobilize public opinion against the new legislation.”

verb + noun

02. mobilize resources for the project

“We need to mobilize resources for the project to ensure we meet the tight deadline.”

verb + noun + prep + noun

03. mobilize the troops

“The government decided to mobilize the troops as the border conflict intensified.”

verb + noun

04. quickly mobilize support

“The charity was able to quickly mobilize support after the earthquake struck the region.”

adv + verb + noun

Noun

05. effort to mobilize voters

“There is a massive effort to mobilize voters ahead of the upcoming national election.”

noun + infinitive

06. failure to mobilize the army

“The failure to mobilize the army in time led to a significant loss of territory.”

noun + infinitive

Adverb

07. effectively mobilize the community

“The local council managed to effectively mobilize the community to clean up the park.”

adv + verb + noun

08. fully mobilize the workforce

“The factory had to fully mobilize the workforce to handle the sudden surge in orders.”

adv + verb + noun

Usage

Takes a direct object when an organizer is acting upon a group; can be used without an object to describe a group's own preparation.

Real-World Examples

“Responding to the Government’s request for international assistance, the WFP is mobilising support and is ready to assist communities.”
UN News 12 Aug 2026
“Belatedly, the global community needs to mobilise to address the threat.”
The Guardian 19 Aug 2026

Etymology

From French mobiliser.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

mobilize(C1)

This entry

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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Occasional
Level
C1 · AdvancedOxford
Updated

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English Reference