coordinate

American  

[koh-awr-dn-it, -dn-ayt, koh-awr-dn-ayt] / 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.

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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

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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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of coordinate

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

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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

The agency said businesses needed additional time to coordinate their systems.

From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2026

The Orthodox have missed Rome’s ability to coordinate, its missionary zeal, its indefatigability in serving the needy, and its intellectual heritage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Much of the outrage in Ukraine this week has been over restrictions to the Starshield satellite communications system that its military relies upon to detect incoming Russian attacks and to coordinate its frontline response.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Arts for LA CEO Gustavo Herrera presented Mosaic LA, a community-led initiative intended to coordinate neighborhood cultural programming and sustain investment beyond 2028.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

If a hideaway had to be abandoned, as happened all the time, who would coordinate the move to another address?

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

In addition, a new State Department-led initiative called Pax Silica coordinates minerals production with U.S. allies such as Greece and Israel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

In his most draconian move yet, the Pentagon polygraphed some 50 high-ranking military officers and civilian officials on the Joint Staff, which coordinates operations, policy and war plans with combatant commanders worldwide.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Langer coordinates the project "Exploring the Diversity of South American Cretaceous Dinosaurs and Their Associated Faunas," which is supported by FAPESP.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

The Danuri team in turn sent their coordinates to NASA's LRO team to help refine their follow-up imaging sequence.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

A spotter reads coordinates into the headpiece, and an artilleryman repeats them back.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

The top official on human rights in the US State Department, Riley Barnes, on Sunday visited the same town where the mayor was beaten, which is largely Christian, on a trip coordinated with the military.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

This early advantage was partly associated with skin stem cells becoming active sooner and working in a more coordinated manner.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

In its statement, Israel’s military said the European officials had not coordinated their visit to the West Bank, which it said was “important to prevent incidents of this kind.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

But he added: "Without detracting from the severity of the incident, it is unfortunate that the visit was not coordinated with the IDF in advance. Such coordination could have helped safeguard the visitors' security."

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

To achieve even a reasonably smooth and powerful stroke, they had to learn to execute a series of precisely timed and carefully coordinated moves.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

"We wanted to understand the role of LPC70 in coordinating changes in PG signaling across organ systems," mentioned Prof. Mouri.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

The office said the delay was the result of insufficient funding and challenges with coordinating between the many agencies responsible for the county’s restraining order system.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

The Tenants' Union, which has been coordinating the protests, has called for demonstrations on Saturday in more than 50 cities.

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

“It’s a miracle that we have anything that blows up,” said Mackenzie Eaglen, a member of the panel coordinating the study.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

I was coordinating the actions in different parts of the country, and talking by phone with regional leaders.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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Related Words

• agree
• harmonize
• integrate
• organize
• regulate

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