capitalize

/ˌkæpədlˈaɪz/

/ˈkæpɪtəlaɪz/

Other forms: capitalized; capitalizing; capitalizes

To capitalize is to put something in capital letters, particularly the first letters, Like This. To capitalize also means to take advantage of a situation.

The first word of every sentence is capitalized, and to capitalize is to write in capital (or upper-case) letters. To capitalize also means to take advantage of an opportunity. Graduates try to capitalize on their degrees by getting well-paying jobs. A football team tries to capitalize on the other team’s mistakes, such as making a touchdown after an interception. It might help you to remember that capitalizing is a good thing if you know capital is also another word for money.

Definitions of capitalize

1. verb

   write in capital letters
   synonyms: capitalise

   type of:

   write

   mark or trace on a surface
2. verb

   draw advantages from
   “he is capitalizing on her mistake”

   synonyms: capitalise, take advantage

   type of:

   benefit, gain, profit

   derive a benefit from
3. verb

   supply with capital, as of a business by using a combination of capital used by investors and debt capital provided by lenders
   synonyms: capitalise

   type of:

   furnish, provide, render, supply

   give something useful or necessary to
4. verb

   convert (a company's reserve funds) into capital
   synonyms: capitalise

   types:

   overcapitalise, overcapitalize

   capitalize beyond what the business or the profit-making prospects warrant

   type of:

   change, commute, convert, exchange

   exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category
5. verb

   consider expenditures as capital assets rather than expenses
   synonyms: capitalise

   type of:

   consider, reckon, regard, see, view

   deem to be
6. verb

   compute the present value of a business or an income
   synonyms: capitalise

   types:

   overcapitalise, overcapitalize

   estimate the capital value of (a company) at an unreasonably or unlawfully high level

   type of:

   calculate, cipher, compute, cypher, figure, reckon, work out

   make a mathematical calculation or computation