socialize

To spend time talking and enjoying yourself with other people.

• I enjoy socializing with friends.
• We socialized after the meeting.
• Do you get many chances to socialize?

How to use it: socialize with someone (She likes to socialize with her neighbours.)

Similar words: mix, mingle

Common phrases: socialize with friends, socialize after work, socialize with someone

To teach someone how people in their society are expected to behave, often through everyday experience.

• Families help socialize children.
• She was socialized to avoid open disagreement.
• Different cultures socialize young people in different ways.

How to use it: socialize someone into something (Schools socialize children into the habits of their society.); socialize someone to do something (Children are socialized to follow certain rules.)

Similar words: acculturate

Common phrases: socialize children, socialize someone into, socialize someone to

To put businesses or property under the ownership of the government or the whole community.

• The party wants to socialize the banks.
• The government socialized several major industries.
• Would socializing land change how farms operate?

Similar words: nationalize, collectivize

Opposites: privatize

Common phrases: socialize industry, socialize the banks, socialize private property