monopolize

4 definitions • 5 examples

in business, to control something completely and to prevent other people having any effect on what happens:

The company had monopolized the photography market for so many decades that they didn't worry about competition from other companies.

If someone monopolizes a person or a conversation, they talk a lot or stop other people being involved:

She completely monopolized the conversation at lunch.

to have or take complete control of something so that others are prevented from sharing it:

Rockefeller monopolized oil refining in the 1800s.

She has a habit of monopolizing the conversation.

to take control of the supply and price of a particular product or service:

Businesses might try to monopolize a market.