hospitalize

verb

hos·​pi·​tal·​ize ˈhä-(ˌ)spi-tə-ˌlīz How to pronounce hospitalize (audio)
hospitalized; hospitalizing
Synonyms of hospitalizenext

transitive verb

: to place in a hospital as a patient
hospitalization
ˌhä-(ˌ)spi-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce hospitalize (audio)
noun

Examples of hospitalize in a Sentence

The doctor wants to hospitalize her for a few days so that he can run some tests.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Archaeologist Alfred Lucas, who was part of Howard Carter’s team which excavated the tomb and present at the time, was reportedly hospitalized from the shock of it. — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Getty Images Nearly 350 Americans have been sickened, with 36 hospitalized across 27 states from a Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeno peppers, according to the CDC. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Two people are dead and another was hospitalized after a shooting at Hidden Gem Restaurant in Southfield, Michigan, early Sunday. — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 Three other members of the same family and a neighbor who came to their aid were hospitalized, local authorities said. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hospitalize

Word History

Etymology

hospital + -ize

First Known Use

circa 1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hospitalize was circa 1899

Rhymes for hospitalize

See All Rhymes for hospitalize

Browse Nearby Words

hospitality suite
hospitalize
Hospitaller
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hospitalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospitalize. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hospitalize

verb
hos·​pi·​tal·​ize ˈhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce hospitalize (audio)
hospitalized; hospitalizing
: to place in a hospital as a patient
hospitalization
ˌhäs-ˌpit-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce hospitalize (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

hospitalize

transitive verb
hos·​pi·​tal·​ize
variants or chiefly British hospitalise
ˈhäs-(ˌ)pit-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce hospitalize (audio) häs-ˈpit-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce hospitalize (audio)
hospitalized or chiefly British hospitalised; hospitalizing or chiefly British hospitalising
: to place in a hospital as a patient
the child was hospitalized at once for diagnosis and treatment—The Journal of the American Medical Association

More from Merriam-Webster on hospitalize

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hospitalize

Nglish: Translation of hospitalize for Spanish Speakers

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