synchronize

[ sing-kruh-nahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, syn·chro·nized, syn·chro·niz·ing.

1. to cause to indicate the same time, as one timepiece with another:

   Synchronize your watches.

2. to cause to go on, move, operate, work, etc., at the same rate and exactly together:

   They synchronized their steps and walked on together.

3. Movies, Television.
   1. to cause (sound and action) to match precisely:

      to synchronize the sound of footsteps with the actor's movements.

   2. to match the sound and action in (a scene).
4. to harmonize or bring into alignment:

   To be at peace with yourself you must synchronize your lifestyle with your values.

5. to cause (accounts or narratives) to agree in the timing and sequence of events, or to arrange (events) in a way that shows their occurrence in the same time or period:

   The early church fathers did not attempt to synchronize the four gospels.

   This chart synchronizes inventions that occurred simultaneously in different parts of the world.

6. Computers. sync ( def 4 ).
7. to adjust the periodicities of (two or more electrical or mechanical devices) so that the periods are equal or integral multiples or fractions of each other.

verb (used without object)

, syn·chro·nized, syn·chro·niz·ing.

1. to occur at the same time or coincide or agree in time.
2. to go on, move, operate, work, etc., at the same rate and exactly together; recur together.
3. Computers. sync ( def 7 ).

synchronize

/ ˈsɪŋkrəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. whenintr, usually foll by with to occur or recur or cause to occur or recur at the same time or in unison
2. to indicate or cause to indicate the same time

   synchronize your watches

3. to download files, esp music or video files, from a PC to a portable device such as an iPod, or to upload files from the device to a PC
4. tr films to establish (the picture and soundtrack records) in their correct relative position
5. tr to designate (events) as simultaneous

Derived Forms

• ˌsynchroniˈzation, noun
• ˈsynchroˌnizer, noun

Other Words From

• syn·chro·ni·za·tion [sing-kr, uh, -nahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• syn·chro·niz·er noun
• de·syn·chro·ni·za·tion noun
• de·syn·chro·nize verb (used with object) desynchronized desynchronizing
• un·syn·chro·nized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of synchronize¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Greek synchronízein “to be contemporary with”; from sýnchron(os) synchronous + -izein -ize

Example Sentences

To use the new tool, users need to synchronize their calendars with the service.

From TechCrunch

The conscious mind produces neither the perfectly synchronized ripples of a stone lobbed into an imaginary pond nor the perfectly scrambled noise of an analog TV’s between-channel snow.

From MIT Technology Review

The British diver, who has been competing in the Olympics since he was 14 years old, won a gold medal last week in synchronized 10-m platform diving alongside his diving partner, Matty Lee.

From Time

Tom Daley’s gold medal win in synchronized platform diving made my heart soar.

From The Daily Beast

You’ll never have to synchronize pushing play across time zones again.

From Popular-Science

He had occupied some of his spare time in attempting to synchronize clocks from a standard clock.

From Project Gutenberg

This is used exclusively to synchronize the flow of information between a tape unit and the computer.

From Project Gutenberg

Co-operation seemed impossible to synchronize in the East; one partner retreated whenever the other advanced.

From Project Gutenberg

If this should happen to synchronize with agrarian discontent, it would be impossible to foretell the issue.

From Project Gutenberg

Fred has a telemagneto recorder there that he can synchronize with this outfit easily enough.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adjust
• harmonize
• integrate
• mesh