PATRONIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does patronize mean? 

• PATRONIZE (verb)
  The verb PATRONIZE has 4 senses:

1. assume sponsorship of

2. do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of

3. treat condescendingly

4. be a regular customer or client of

  Familiarity information: PATRONIZE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PATRONIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they patronize    ... he / she / it patronizes   
Past simple: patronized   
Past participle: patronized   
-ing form: patronizing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Assume sponsorship of

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

patronise; patronize; sponsor

Hypernyms (to "patronize" is one way to...):

support (support materially or financially)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "patronize"):

cosponsor (sponsor together with another sponsor)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue patronize the movie

Derivation:

patron (someone who supports or champions something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

buy at; frequent; patronise; patronize; shop; shop at; sponsor

Hypernyms (to "patronize" is one way to...):

back up; support (give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

boycott (refuse to sponsor; refuse to do business with)

Derivation:

patron (a regular customer)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Treat condescendingly

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

condescend; patronise; patronize

Hypernyms (to "patronize" is one way to...):

interact (act together or towards others or with others)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "patronize"):

stoop to (make concessions to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be a regular customer or client of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

keep going; patronage; patronise; patronize; support

Context example:

Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could

Hypernyms (to "patronize" is one way to...):

foster; nurture (help develop, help grow)

Verb group:

keep going; run on (continue uninterrupted)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

patron (a regular customer)

 Context examples 

The mere fact that solid men should patronize it was enough in itself to prevent the villainy which afterwards crept in.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But, fair or not fair, there are unbecoming conjunctions, which reason will patronize in vain—which taste cannot tolerate—which ridicule will seize.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The time was not long when Martin ceased patronizing the Japanese restaurants.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Alas! If the heroine of one novel be not patronized by the heroine of another, from whom can she expect protection and regard?

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

"I don't truckle, and I hate being patronized as much as you do!" returned Amy indignantly, for the two still jangled when such questions arose.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A general smile followed, in which Wolf Larsen joined, and the dinner went on smoothly, thanks to me, for he treated me abominably the rest of the meal, sneering at me and patronizing me till I was all a-tremble with suppressed rage.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

These men, with their small waists, their gestures, and their unnatural ways, had become wearisome to me, and even my uncle, with his cold and patronizing manner, filled me with very mixed feelings.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was possessed with a mania for patronizing Yankee ingenuity, and seeing his friends fitly furnished forth.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She was rather surprised, therefore, when the silence remained unbroken, and Jo assumed a patronizing air, which decidedly aggravated Meg, who in turn assumed an air of dignified reserve and devoted herself to her mother.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

We have many most respectable and worthy young women who do the same and are employed by the nobility, because, being the daughters of gentlemen, they are both well bred and accomplished, you know, said Miss Kate in a patronizing tone that hurt Meg's pride, and made her work seem not only more distasteful, but degrading.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)