Generalize Verb - Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation And Usage Notes

Home » What Does It Mean To Generalize » Generalize Verb - Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation And Usage Notes

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Definition of generalize verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

generalize verbOPAL W  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪz/  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪz/(British English also generalise) Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they generalize  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪz/  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪz/
he / she / it generalizes  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪzɪz/  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪzɪz/
past simple generalized  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪzd/  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪzd/
past participle generalized  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪzd/  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪzd/
-ing form generalizing  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪzɪŋ/  /ˈdʒenrəlaɪzɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] generalize (from something) to use a particular set of facts or ideas in order to form an opinion that is considered relevant to a different situation
    • It would be foolish to generalize from a single example.
    • We cannot generalize from these few examples.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc1Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + generalize
    • can
    • be easy to
    • be possible to
    • …
    preposition
    • about
    • from
    See full entry

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  2. [intransitive] generalize (about something) to make a general statement about something and not look at the details
    • It is dangerous to generalize about people on low incomes.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + generalize
    • can
    • be easy to
    • be possible to
    • …
    preposition
    • about
    • from
    See full entry
  3. [transitive, often passive] (formal) to apply a theory, idea, etc. to a wider group or situation than the original one
    • be generalized (to something) These conclusions cannot be generalized to the whole country.
    • generalize something (to something) We are now in a position to generalize the lessons we have learnt.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + generalize
    • can
    • be easy to
    • be possible to
    • …
    preposition
    • about
    • from
    See full entry
    4. Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘reduce to a general statement’): from general + -ize.
See generalize in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee generalize in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation: generalize

Nearby words

  • generality noun
  • generalization noun
  • generalize verb
  • generalized adjective
  • general knowledge noun
gaze verb From the Word list Oxford 5000 C1 Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day

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