Standard Lemma guide

ruralize

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To make rural; to give a rural character to (something or someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To become rural; to take up residence or spend time in the country.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • c. 1822, Charles Lamb, undated letter to John Howard Payne in The Letter of Charles Lamb, 1814-1825, Boston: The Bibliophile Society, Volume 4, pp. 197-198, I shall certainly attend your Farce, if in town; but as ’t is possible I shall ruralize this week, I will have no orders of you till next week.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rusticate

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From rural + -ize.