coordinate

American  

[koh-awr-dn-it, -dn-eyt, koh-awr-dn-eyt] / koʊˈɔr dn ɪt, -dnˌeɪt, koʊˈɔr dnˌeɪt /

Or co-ordinate

adjective

1. of the same order or degree; equal in rank or importance.

2. involving the proper relationship or harmonious interaction among functions or parts.

3. Mathematics. using or pertaining to systems of coordinates.

4. Grammar. of the same rank in grammatical construction, as Jack and Jill in the phrase Jack and Jill, or got up and shook hands in the sentence He got up and shook hands.

---

noun

1. a person or thing of equal rank or importance; an equal.

2. Mathematics. any of the magnitudes that serve to define the position of a point, line, or the like, by reference to a fixed figure, system of lines, etc.

3. coordinates, articles of clothing, furniture, or the like, harmonizing in color, material, or style, designed to be worn or used together.

verb (used with object)

• coordinates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• coordinated,
  past participle,  past
• coordinating
  present participle

1. to place or class in the same order, rank, division, etc.

2. to place or arrange in proper order or position.

   Synonyms:

   correlate, order

3. to combine in harmonious relation or action.

verb (used without object)

• coordinates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• coordinated,
  past participle,  past
• coordinating
  present participle

1. to become coordinate.

2. to assume proper order or relation.

3. to act in harmonious combination.

coordinate British  

verb

1. (tr) to organize or integrate (diverse elements) in a harmonious operation

2. to place (things) in the same class or order, or (of things) to be placed in the same class or order

3. (intr) to work together, esp harmoniously

4. (intr) to take or be in the form of a harmonious order

5. chem to form or cause to form a coordinate bond

---

noun

1. maths any of a set of numbers that defines the location of a point in space See Cartesian coordinates polar coordinates

2. a person or thing equal in rank, type, etc

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or involving coordination

2. of the same rank, type, etc

3. of or involving the use of coordinates

   coordinate geometry

coordinate Scientific  

/ kō-ôr′dn-ĭt /

1. One of a set of numbers that determines the position of a point. Only one coordinate is needed if the point is on a line, two if the point is in a plane, and three if it is in space.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• co-ordinateness
  noun
• coordinateness
  noun
• coordinator
  noun
• uncoordinateness
  noun
• intercoordinate
  verb
• miscoordinate
  verb
• co-ordinative
  adjective
• coordinative
  adjective
• intercoordinate
  adjective
• noncoordinating
  adjective
• uncoordinate
  adjective
• uncoordinated
  adjective
• co-ordinately
  adverb
• coordinately
  adverb
• uncoordinately
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• coordinating
  present
• coordinated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• coordinate
  simple
• coordinates
  simple
• have coordinated
  perfect
• has coordinated
  perfect
• am coordinating
  progressive
• are coordinating
  progressive
• is coordinating
  progressive
• have been coordinating
  perfect progressive
• has been coordinating
  perfect progressive

Past

• coordinated
  simple
• had coordinated
  perfect
• was coordinating
  progressive
• were coordinating
  progressive
• had been coordinating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will coordinate
  simple
• will have coordinated
  perfect
• will be coordinating
  progressive
• will have been coordinating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of coordinate

First recorded in 1635–45; co- + (sub)ordinate

Explanation

The word coordinate is all about getting things in order. Are your ducks in a row? Well, then you know what it means to coordinate something. And if you know exactly where to drop the bomb, then you know what the coordinates are. Coordinate is one of those words that can mean very different things but is rarely misunderstood in context. It’s a great way to describe the work of organizing, planning, and strategizing. When synchronizing the needs of two distinct groups, for instance, it is necessary to coordinate priorities and schedules. And as you speed down the highway, listening to the serene voice on your GPS announce the coordinates of your destination, chances are you don’t think she’s organizing resources.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coordinate coordinates coordinated coordinating

They reveal scarcity and coordinate countless individual decisions across society.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

According to Talbot, intimacy coordinators have three jobs: to advocate, to coordinate and to choreograph.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

The researchers also examined several cytokines, signaling molecules that help coordinate immune activity.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

That shows how couples who coordinate benefits could end up with more retirement wealth without actually saving more.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

To my relief I was able to hold my breath, quell my panic, and coordinate my limbs well enough to start pulling back to the surface.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Specifically, it’s about situations where the numbers represent points in a space, like coordinates on a map.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

The trouble small-budget indies run into in L.A. is location and permitting costs, said Philip Sokoloski, vice president of communications at FilmLA, the nonprofit that coordinates permits and tracks local production.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

He said Google was allowing "invented" imagery to be "welded to genuine coordinates, drawn on genuine imagery".

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

But the decree included the exact grid coordinates for the square, which borders Putin’s official residence inside the Kremlin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

Sure enough, every set of coordinates matches up with a major city.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Without evidence of a coordinated effort or plot, it didn’t make sense to put resources into such prosecutions, a former DOJ official who oversaw election cases said.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

“It’s about being unified. It’s about working in a coordinated fashion, and it’s about understanding the end goal.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

"These signs reveal a surprisingly structured, geometric way of thinking," says Silvia Ferrara, Professor at the University of Bologna's Department of Classical Philology and Italian Studies, who coordinated the study.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

They cited Ueda’s remarks and the coordinated U.S.-Japan intervention to support the yen on July 31, which they said could allow the BOJ to raise rates sooner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Dr. Medina’s entire menagerie of animals—dogs, cats, snakes, a wild-eyed goat, even a quartet of guinea pigs—launched coordinated attacks at her prompting.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

A liaison officer was tasked with coordinating the aerial resources "to prevent accidents," she said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

The applicants also said they agreed to several operating conditions, including opening after the school day, installing security cameras, coordinating with nearby schools and other measures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

“The United States Coast Guard and the Taiwan Coast Guard are busy coordinating on shared maritime objectives,” the post said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Rosanna Pedrollo spent half a century working for Brescia, first joining the club's administration department in 1968 - she met De Zerbi's father, Alfredo, in the early 1980s through his work coordinating the supporters' clubs.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

We had four people up there, which really helped in coordinating everything.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• agree
• harmonize
• integrate
• organize
• regulate