Dictionary

capitalize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• (UK) audio
• /ˈkæpətəˌlaɪz/

Etymology

From capital + -ize, the first element ultimately from Latin capitālis (“of the head”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) In writing or editing, to write (something: either an entire word or text, or just the initial letter(s) thereof) in capital letters, in upper case.
   • In German, all nouns are capitalized.
2. (transitive) To contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for.
   • To have any hope of success a new venture must be properly capitalized. 1990 April 7, 9, “Irish Gay Mag To Begin Publication”, in Gay Community News, page 9:
   • Some states require proof that a new venture is properly capitalized before the state will issue a certificate of incorporation.
3. (transitive) To convert into capital, i.e., to get cash or similar immediately fungible resources for some less fungible property or source of future income.
   • If we obtain a loan using the business as collateral, the effect will be to capitalize our next ten years of income, giving us cash today that we can use to buy out our competitor.
4. (transitive) To treat as capital, not as an expense.
5. (intransitive) To profit or to obtain an advantage.
   • In early morality plays, there appeared several vices representing some of the deadly sins, such as Covetousness, Lust, or Pride. Later plays, particularly those performed between 1560 and 1575, featured a single, composite character labelled as "the Vice" (Miyajima, 1977). The Vice, like the Devil, operated by capitalizing on observed human vulnerability. 1983, Wendy Griswold, “The Devil's Techniques: Cultural Legitimation and Social Change”, in American Sociological Review, volume 48, number 5, page 671a of 668–680:
   • The home team took several shots on goal but was unable to capitalize until late in the game.
6. (followed by on, intransitive) To seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit from; to invest on something profitable.
   • The home team appeared to have the advantage throughout the game, and finally capitalized on their opponents' weakness with just two minutes remaining, scoring several points in quick succession.

Forms

Deriveds

miscapitalize · recapitalize · undercapitalize · uncapitalize · capitalizer · overcapitalize · decapitalize

Relateds

capitalizable · capitalization

Translations (42)

fi rahastoida (to treat as capital, not as an expense) · fr capitaliser (to convert into capital) · ru воспо́льзоваться (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · pt maiuscular (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · tr faydalanmak (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · mi whakahua (to convert into capital) · es escribir con mayúscula inicial (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · pl zyskiwać (to profit or to obtain an advantage) · sv slå mynt av (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · ro a scrie cu litere mari (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · fi hyödyntää (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · fi pääomittaa (to have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business) · ru извлека́ть вы́году (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · de Profit schlagen (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · pl spieniężać (to convert into capital) · hu nagy kezdőbetűvel ír (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · tr yararlanmak (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · hu nagybetűvel ír (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · ca capitalitzar (to have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business) · pt maiusculizar (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · fi rahoittaa (to have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business) · ro capitaliza (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · de großschreiben (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · it trarre vantaggio (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · fi kirjoittaa isoin kirjaimin (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · pl pisać wielką literą (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · fi muuttaa rahaksi (to convert into capital) · es mayusculizar (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · fr capitaliser (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · de kapitalisieren (to convert into capital) · mi whakapūmatua (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · tr istifade etmek (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · ro capitaliza (to have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business) · ro scrie cu majuscule (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · pl kapitalizować (to have, contribute or acquire capital (money or other resources) for a business) · el κεφαλαιοποιώ (to convert into capital) · es escribir en mayúsculas (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · ca capitalitzar (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · fi käyttää hyväkseen (to seize, as an opportunity; to obtain a benefit) · ru писа́ть прописны́ми бу́квами (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · ru писа́ть большы́ми бу́квами (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters) · pl pisać z dużej litery (In writing or editing, to make use of capital letters)