coordinate

UK /kəʊˈɔː.dɪˌneɪt/ US /koʊˈɔɹ.dəˌneɪt/ Syllables: co-or-di-nate

Pronunciation

Verb A2 Elementary Neutral

To organize different people or things so that they work together smoothly.

To coordinate is to organize people or things so that they work well together. When you coordinate a meeting, you make sure the time, the room and the people all fit. When teams coordinate, they share their plans so they do not repeat or block each other. The word is also used for colors and clothes that match well. Say the verb with the stress on the second syllable, co-OR-di-nate, and end it with the sound of ate. The same spelling is also a noun and an adjective, and then the ending sounds more like it. A coordinate on a map is a number that gives a place. Words like this, spelled the same but said differently, are called heteronyms.

"She coordinates the volunteers for the annual food drive."

Meanings

To organize different people or things so that they work together smoothly.
To match or go well together, especially clothes, colors or furniture.

Example sentences

"Who will coordinate the school trip?"

Level A2, Meaning 1
"We need to coordinate our schedules."

Level B1, Meaning 1
"The two teams coordinate their work every Monday."

Level B1, Meaning 1
"She coordinated her scarf with her coat."

Level B2, Meaning 2

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms

organize arrange

Look-alikes and common mistakes

cooperate : Cooperate means to work together willingly. Coordinate means to organize things so that they fit together.
collaborate : Collaborate means to work with others on the same task. Coordinate is about arranging who does what and when.

Word family and forms

Forms: coordinates, coordinating, coordinated

coordination coordinator coordinated uncoordinated

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "coordinate".

coordinate efforts
coordinate with
coordinate a project
coordinate activities
coordinate schedules
well coordinated

Origin

Coordinate comes from Medieval Latin coōrdinātus, a form of coōrdinō, to arrange together, built from co-, together, and ōrdinō, to put in order. English formed it from co- and ordinate in the 1600s. The adjective, the noun and the verb share this one source, which is why they are spelled the same.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

How to remember it

Co means together and ordinate suggests order. To coordinate is to put things in order together.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "Who will _____ the school trip?"

Answer: coordinate

In your own words, what does "coordinate" mean?