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.

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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

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

Under another plan proposed by mediators, Iran, the U.S. and Oman would coordinate on navigation in the waterway, according to senior regional officials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● 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

Their findings reveal how insulin-producing cells coordinate protein folding and what happens when that system falls out of balance.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

Welsh forces recently formed Operation Galileo Cymru, working with farming unions and other agencies to share intelligence and coordinate action on hare coursing and associated rural crimes.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

In this case, we want the first coordinate to be headed by a participle, so that it matches/reed him in the second.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

The church often coordinates with parishioners on redevelopment but doesn’t control or direct those who own property downtown, Heller, the spokeswoman, said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Social Security coordinates the benefits and pays the higher amount for which you are eligible.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026

The post read “A new era of PC,” and then listed two numbers which appear to be the coordinates of the Taipei Music Center.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

In order to ship coffee to Europe, Vietnamese and Brazilian suppliers will soon have to supply the GPS coordinates of their plantations.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

In relativity, there is no real distinction between the space and time coordinates, just as there is no real difference between any two space coordinates.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

"Addressing this long-term issue requires a coordinated, whole Executive approach, with all Ministers working collectively."

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Weeks later, in July 2014, Drapatiy coordinated the safe withdrawal of 260 troops from an area that was encircled and relentlessly shelled for weeks by Russian forces.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

The nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists says it expects a coordinated campaign to target both the report and its individual authors.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

“It’s the right time for a coordinated effort to bring clarity to a confusing situation.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Had the bolas come in massed, coordinated onslaughts instead of being wielded by individual soldiers as they thought opportune, Pizarro might well have met his match.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Hours before Clayton's confirmation vote, Pulte boasted that a fifth round of dismissals would bring staffing reductions at the intelligence coordinating body to about 30 percent within weeks.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

As for the remaining 40% of couples surveyed, they don’t appear to be coordinating, but they also don’t lose money because of it, perhaps for reasons such as both of them maximizing their match.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Other commitments include negotiating separate rate structures with utilities and states and coordinating with grid operators to prevent blackouts and power shortages.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

The researchers also identified one bipolar cell type, known as BC6, that appeared to play a leading role in coordinating this network.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

“I’ll go on into town. There must be some sort of emergency headquarters. The Red Cross or the National Guard or someone must be coordinating rescue efforts.”

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Related Words

• agree
• harmonize
• integrate
• organize
• regulate