1. to direct or channel something into a particular course or direction
2. to construct canals in an area or convert a river into a canal
Usage: engineering; civil engineering

Examples

• The government tried to canalize public anger into support for reform.
• Engineers worked to canalize the river to prevent flooding.
• The teacher helped canalize the students’ energy into productive activities.
• Urban planners decided to canalize the waterway through the city center.
• The organization sought to canalize donations toward disaster relief.
• They canalized the stream to create a navigable waterway.