Meaning of the word capitalize in English

What does capitalize mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

capitalize

US /ˈkæp.ə.t̬əl.aɪz/
UK /ˈkæp.ɪ.təl.aɪz/
"capitalize" picture

Verb

1.

to take the chance to gain an advantage from something

Example:
The company failed to capitalize on the new market trend.
We need to capitalize on our opponent's mistakes.
2.

to write or print a letter as a capital letter

Example:
You should always capitalize the first letter of a sentence.
Proper nouns are usually capitalized.