urbanise
UK: ˈɜːbənaɪz | US: ˈɜːrbənaɪz
vt. to make (a rural area) more urban in character by developing infrastructure, housing, or industry
vi. (of a rural area) to become urban in character
The word "urbanise" combines "urban," derived from the Latin urbanus (relating to a city, from urbs "city"), with the verb-forming suffix "-ise," a British variant of "-ize." The suffix "-ise/-ize" originates from Greek -izein, adopted into Latin as -izare and later into French as -iser. The term reflects the process of transforming rural areas into city-like environments, mirroring the historical shift toward urbanization during industrialization.
The government plans to urbanise the coastal region by building new highways and residential complexes.
Many villages near the capital have begun to urbanise rapidly due to economic growth.
Critics argue that over-urbanising green spaces harms biodiversity.
The area urbanised so quickly that farmland disappeared within a decade.
Policies aimed to urbanise rural communities often face resistance from local residents.