monopolize

/məˌnɑpəˈlaɪz/

/məˈnɒpəlaɪz/

Other forms: monopolized; monopolizing; monopolizes

If you monopolize something, you won't let anyone else get their hands on it. When you were little, your mom might have said, "Don't monopolize the swing. Let your sister have a turn."

When a company monopolizes something, it has an unfair amount of control over a particular product or service, hurting other companies and giving consumers fewer choices. A business might monopolize the media in an entire state, for example, by owning the local newspapers, TV stations, and news websites. Monopolize comes from monopoly, which isn't just a great board game, but actually means "exclusive control of a commodity or trade."

Definitions of monopolize

1. verb

   have or exploit a monopoly of
   “OPEC wants to monopolize oil”

   synonyms: monopolise

   type of:

   have, have got, hold

   have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
2. verb

   have and control fully and exclusively
   “He monopolizes the laser printer”

   synonyms: monopolise

   type of:

   command, control

   exercise authoritative control or power over