mechanize
gb/mˈɛkənˌaɪz/ us/mˈɛkənˌaɪz/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
introduce machinery to do work
To start using machines to do work instead of people doing it by hand.
Usage pattern:
mechanize [something]
Common mistake:
Often used with a direct object (mechanize a farm/production line), not *mechanize on* or *mechanize to*.
Synonyms
industrialize (Broader; refers to developing industry in general, not just adding machines.)
|
modernize (General improvement; may include new methods besides machinery.)
|
machine (More literal and less common as a verb; focuses on equipping with machines.)
Antonyms
handcraft (Emphasizes making or doing something by hand rather than using machines.)
|
deindustrialize (Refers to reducing industrial activity; not a direct opposite in every context.)
Collocations
mechanize farming
|mechanize agriculture
|mechanize production
|mechanize a factory
|mechanize a plant
|mechanize harvesting
|mechanize a process
|mechanize operations
|mechanize tasks
|fully mechanized
Themes
technology
|industry
|agriculture
|work
Examples
- The company mechanized its packaging line to cut costs and increase output.
- In the 1950s many farms mechanized, replacing horses with tractors.
- The mill was mechanized over time, and fewer workers were needed on the floor.
Learner examples
- They mechanized the farm with new machines.
- The factory mechanized its work.
Verb
business
C1
process
2
make a system run automatically
To make a process work automatically and regularly using machines or technology.
Usage pattern:
mechanize [a process/system]
Common mistake:
In modern contexts, speakers often prefer automate; mechanize can sound more physical/industrial.
Synonyms
automate (More common today; often implies computer-controlled automation.)
|
streamline (Focuses on simplifying and speeding up, not necessarily using machines.)
|
standardize (Emphasizes uniform procedures; may not involve machines.)
Antonyms
customize (Makes something tailored or variable rather than standardized and automatic.)
|
improvise (Relies on spontaneous human decisions rather than a fixed system.)
Collocations
mechanize a system
|mechanize workflows
|mechanize routine work
|mechanize data handling
|mechanize record-keeping
|mechanize the supply chain
|mechanize administrative tasks
|mechanize inspection
|mechanize reporting
|mechanized system
Themes
technology
|business
|efficiency
Examples
- The bank mechanized parts of its approval process to handle more applications.
- They mechanized inventory tracking so counts updated automatically after each shipment.
- The goal was to mechanize routine checks and free staff for more complex work.
Learner examples
- The office mechanized the process to save time.
Verb
literary
C1
process
3
make someone act like a machine
To make someone do things in a boring, automatic way, like a machine.
Usage pattern:
mechanize [someone/something]
Common mistake:
This figurative sense is less common; in everyday speech, people often say make [someone] feel like a robot.
Synonyms
dehumanize (Stronger; focuses on removing human qualities or dignity.)
|
robotize (Informal and vivid; suggests turning people into robots.)
Antonyms
humanize (Restores a more personal, flexible, human quality.)
|
revitalize (Makes something feel lively and energetic rather than routine.)
Collocations
mechanize workers
|mechanize labor
|mechanize the workforce
|mechanize human activity
|mechanized routine
|mechanized life
Themes
work
|behavior
Examples
- The endless repetition began to mechanize his movements and dull his attention.
- Critics argued that the system mechanized teaching and left little room for creativity.
- She worried that constant metrics would mechanize the work and remove judgment.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mechanize
IPA
GB/mˈɛkənˌaɪz/
US/mˈɛkənˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
mech - an - ize (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mech)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: mechanize
- 3rd Person Singular: mechanizes
- Present Participle: mechanizing
- Past: mechanized
Word family
Forms
mechanizes
verb
mechanizing
verb
mechanized
verb
Core family
mechanization
noun
mechanical
adjective B1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unmechanized
adjective
Advanced or less common
mechanistic
adjective
mechanistically
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.