capitalize
/ˈkæpɪtəlaɪz/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈæpətəlˌaɪz] /ˈkæpɪtəlaɪz/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈæpətəlˌaɪz] /ˈka-pə-tə-ˌlīz How to pronounce capitalize (audio) ˈkap-tə-/ (ame, mw)
capitalize — verb
- capitalizepresent simple I / you / we / they
- capitalizeshe / she / it
- capitalizedpast simple
- capitalizing-ing form
1. to change a letter or word from lowercase to capital form, especially at the beg
to change a letter or word from lowercase to capital form, especially at the beginning of a name or sentence.
Please capitalize Monday and the names of months in your report.
capitalize + names that require capitals
Nora forgot to capitalize the first word after the full stop.
capitalize + the first word
The app automatically capitalizes street names on the map.
On the poster, Quan capitalized SALE to make it stand out.
- uppercase
common in computing or formatting contexts
- write in capitals
plain descriptive phrase rather than a single verb
- lowercase
to write letters in small form rather than capitals
文法句型
capitalize + noun phrase
capitalize + the first letter of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Usually takes the letter, word, or title being changed as its object. In writing rules, it often appears in directions such as 'capitalize proper nouns' or 'capitalize the first word'.
2. to put money into a company or project so it has enough funds to keep operating
to put money into a company or project so it has enough funds to keep operating or expand.
The founders capitalized the startup with savings from three relatives.
capitalize + business + with + source of money
A local bank agreed to capitalize the clinic during its first year.
The new owners capitalized the factory before adding more machines.
Without outside investors, the family could not capitalize the restaurant properly.
文法句型
capitalize + company/project
capitalize + business + with + money/source
用法筆記
The object is usually a business, project, or institution that needs money, not a person. This sense often appears with investors, banks, founders, or owners as the subject.
3. to use a chance, strength, or change in conditions in a way that brings you an a
to use a chance, strength, or change in conditions in a way that brings you an advantage, often in the phrase capitalize on.
Hiro capitalized on the crowded station by opening his coffee cart early.
capitalize on + situation
The team capitalized on two defensive errors and won by three goals.
Shanti capitalized on her language skills when she applied for the tour job.
Smart shops capitalize on holiday traffic with extra evening hours.
- leverage
common in business language, with a strategic tone
- make use of
broader and more neutral in tone
- cash in on
informal, often suggests quick profit
- exploit
can sound negative or unfair
文法句型
capitalize on + noun phrase
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'on' plus the opportunity, weakness, demand, or skill being used. Distinguish from sense 2: here you gain from a situation, rather than supply money to a business.
常見錯誤
4. to turn assets, profits, or reserve funds you already own into capital or ready
to turn assets, profits, or reserve funds you already own into capital or ready cash.
After the merger, the company capitalized part of its cash reserve.
capitalize + reserve fund
The board capitalized last year's profit to support the new plant.
Several firms capitalized idle assets during the downturn.
To raise cash, the estate capitalized the land beside the highway.
文法句型
capitalize + assets/profits/reserves
用法筆記
This sense is used in finance or accounting contexts. The object is usually reserves, profits, land, or other assets the owner already has, not a company receiving fresh outside money as in sense 2.