1. to bring under imperial rule or control; to make part of an empire
Usage: transitive; often used in historical or political contexts
2. to give imperial status, dignity, or character to something
Usage: transitive; less common

Examples

• The European powers sought to imperialize vast territories in Africa during the 19th century.
• Colonial governments attempted to imperialize indigenous populations through forced assimilation.
• The empire's strategy was to imperialize neighboring regions and extract their resources.
• Historians debate whether it was possible to imperialize a region without causing cultural damage.
• The nation refused to imperialize its smaller neighbors, choosing instead to form voluntary alliances.