Word part · Greek suffix
Suffix -ize words: meaning and 27 examples
In short
The Greek suffix -ize (from Greek) means "to make, or to become". Words with it include sympathize, realize, modernize, criticize, finalize and symbolize. It came to English from Greek through Latin and French.
- Part
- -ize
- Meaning
- to make, or to become
- Origin
- Greek
- Words listed
- 27
It came to English from Greek through Latin and French. American spelling uses -ize; British books often use -ise, so students may see both.
Words with the Greek suffix -ize
The list runs from shorter, common words to longer ones. The bands are a rough guide built from syllable count and how common each word is in our word list, not a grade-level standard. Read each word, then its word sum.
Colors:prefixroot or basesuffix
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| sympathize | sym (prefix)+path (root or base)+ize (suffix)→sympathizethe prefix changes to match | feel sorry for someone and show it |
| realize | real (root or base)+ize (suffix)→realize | to understand that something is real or true |
| modernize | modern (root or base)+ize (suffix)→modernize | to make something modern |
| criticize | critic (root or base)+ize (suffix)→criticize | to point out what is wrong with something |
| finalize | final (root or base)+ize (suffix)→finalize | to make a plan final |
| symbolize | symbol (root or base)+ize (suffix)→symbolize | to stand for something, like a symbol |
| vocalize | vocal (root or base)+ize (suffix)→vocalize | to say something out loud |
| publicize | public (root or base)+ize (suffix)→publicize | to make something known to the public |
| legalize | legal (root or base)+ize (suffix)→legalize | to make something legal |
| equalize | equal (root or base)+ize (suffix)→equalize | to make things equal |
| fossilize | fossil (root or base)+ize (suffix)→fossilize | to turn into a fossil |
| visualize | visual (root or base)+ize (suffix)→visualize | to make a picture in your mind |
| customize | custom (root or base)+ize (suffix)→customize | to change something to suit a person |
| standardize | standard (root or base)+ize (suffix)→standardize | to make things follow one standard |
| privatize | private (root or base)+ize (suffix)→privatizedrop the e | to hand something over to private owners |
| recognize | re (prefix)+cogn (root or base)+ize (suffix)→recognize | know someone or something again when you see it |
More words: memorize, organize, summarize
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| alphabetize | alphabet (root or base)+ize (suffix)→alphabetize | to put words in alphabet order |
| computerize | computer (root or base)+ize (suffix)→computerize | to set up work to run on computers |
| recognized | re (prefix)+cogn (root or base)+ize (suffix)+ed (suffix)→recognizeddrop the e | knew again on sight, in the past |
| recognizes | re (prefix)+cogn (root or base)+ize (suffix)+s (suffix)→recognizes | knows on sight (one person, now) |
| recognizing | re (prefix)+cogn (root or base)+ize (suffix)+ing (suffix)→recognizingdrop the e | knowing on sight, now |
| recognizable | re (prefix)+cogn (root or base)+ize (suffix)+able (suffix)→recognizabledrop the e | easy to know on sight |
| unrecognizable | un (prefix)+re (prefix)+cogn (root or base)+ize (suffix)+able (suffix)→unrecognizabledrop the e | changed so much you cannot tell who or what it is |
More words: apologize
How do you teach the suffix -ize?
This suffix makes action words, so teach it with describing words the student knows: real, final, modern, equal. Real becomes realize, to see that something is real. Final becomes finalize, to make a plan final. Write the pairs side by side and ask what kind of word each new one is. It is always an action. If a student has read British books, explain that realise and realize are the same word.
A quick routine
Write legal, public, modern, vocal and final. Say, "Ize means to make. Modern plus ize is modernize: to make something modern." The student builds each word and says the meaning in the frame "to make it ___." Ask, "What happens to private?" The e drops before the vowel, giving privatize. Finish with alphabetize and have the student actually alphabetize the five words on the board.
What do students mix up with -ize?
Size, prize and seize end in i-z-e but have no base word inside. Take off the ending and you get s or pr, which mean nothing. Memorize and apologize are real -ize words, but their bases (memory, apology) lose a letter, so save them until the clean pairs are solid.
Some of these words change spelling where the parts join. The spelling rules pages cover dropping e, doubling and changing y to i. For the sounds inside these words, see the phonics word lists. Routines that fit: meanings of prefixes and suffixes, circle the parts, read the base and flexible routine for big words.
Questions people ask
What does the suffix -ize mean?
-ize means "to make, or to become". It is a Greek suffix. It came to English from Greek through Latin and French. American spelling uses -ize; British books often use -ise, so students may see both.
What are some words with the suffix -ize?
Start with sympathize, realize, modernize and criticize. Then move to alphabetize and computerize. This page lists 27 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
Is it realize or realise?
Both spellings are correct; American English uses -ize and British English often uses -ise. Students in the United States should write -ize. The meaning is the same either way.
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