organize

American  

[awr-guh-nahyz] / ˈɔr gəˌnaɪz /

especially British, organise

verb (used with object)

organized, organizing

1. to form as or into a whole consisting of interdependent or coordinated parts, especially for united action.

   to organize a committee.

   Synonyms:

   frame, dispose

   Antonyms:

   destroy

2. to systematize.

   to organize the files of an office.

   Synonyms:

   order

3. to give organic structure or character to.

   Cells become differentiated and organized into tissues.

4. to enlist or attempt to enlist into a labor union.

   to organize workers.

5. to enlist the employees of (a company) into a labor union; unionize.

   to organize a factory.

6. Informal. to put (oneself ) in a state of mental competence to perform a task.

   We can't have any slip-ups, so you'd better get organized.

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verb (used without object)

organized, organizing

1. to combine in an organized company, party, or the like.

2. to form a labor union.

   Management resisted all efforts to organize.

3. to assume organic structure.

organize British  

/ ˈɔːɡəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to form (parts or elements of something) into a structured whole; coordinate

2. (tr) to arrange methodically or in order

3. (tr) to provide with an organic structure

4. (tr) to enlist (the workers) of (a factory, concern, or industry) in a trade union

5. (intr) to join or form an organization or trade union

6. informal (tr) to put (oneself) in an alert and responsible frame of mind

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Other Word Forms

• misorganize
  verb
• organizability
  noun
• organizable
  adjective
• outorganize
  verb (used with object)
• preorganize
  verb
• unorganizable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of organize

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin organizāre “to contrive, arrange,” equivalent to organ(um) organ + -izāre -ize

Explanation

If you systematically put something in order, you organize it. Your family might not understand the way you organize your kitchen if you keep shoelaces, dental floss, and a screwdriver in your silverware drawer. The verb organize also means to plan or orchestrate something. If you've agreed to organize the German club's bake sale, you'll probably spend some serious time transporting cupcakes and linzer torte to school. When a group of workers forms a union, this action is also described with the verb organize. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union, for example, was organized in 1900 in New York City by immigrant factory workers.

Example Sentences

AI is coming to small business, helping companies to organize supply chains, plan production and execute other functions in ways that only multibillion-dollar enterprises were once able to afford.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Since returning from Iraq in 2006, Hughes has become a vocal anti-war activist and artist, sharing his experience and helping to organize other veterans as well.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

Some of the candidates’ fantasy characters were literal — City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, a labor organizer running for reelection, was a barbarian named “Hugo the Organizer” using his “righteous indignation” to organize workers.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

In 2023, Ramos also helped organize protests for the families of five men who were killed by Mexican soldiers in their car while out partying.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

The reconciliation that the Committee of Thirty-Four suggested would have allowed the police to organize and stated that if the police called off the strike, there would be no disciplinary action taken against their leaders.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

Related Words

• construct
• coordinate
• create
• establish
• form
• formulate
• regulate
• run
• set up