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

Nepal's Prime Minister said "the entire nation has been left shocked and deeply distressed" and that officials would coordinate with China on the response.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Specific regions of DNA help coordinate this process, guiding the production of enzymes, hormones, proteins, and other molecules that cells need to function properly.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

You may also need to coordinate with the named beneficiaries.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

From Leigh Ramsey at Bluefield Research I learned about Texas outright prohibiting utilities from connecting to the internet, and establishing a “Cyber Command” to identify weaknesses and coordinate responses.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

Rob, ashenfaced, announced that he and Mike Groom would hurry to Base Camp at dawn to coordinate Tenzing’s rescue.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

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

According to Habicht, the organisation shares coordinates of its facilities with both Moscow and Kyiv specifically in order to protect them from strikes.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

The federal government is replacing the reference system underlying American coordinates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

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

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

Lippmann kept giving you these coordinates, until you were almost forced to identify the location of the ship—exactly what just about everyone else on Wall Street hoped you’d never do.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

The case, which began as a coordinated, bipartisan effort involving attorneys general from 29 states, eventually expanded to encompass 47, as well as the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

From 4 September onwards, PCS members at all sites will work to rule and withdraw cooperation in coordinated action with Prospect, another trade union, PCS said.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

In some materials, this coordinated state appears only at extremely low temperatures.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

"We have already coordinated with parents and guardians to pick up their children and the university has ensured the safety of those remaining on campus," it said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

One of the proctors interrupted them, an older woman named Roberta who often coordinated with the Placement Office.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Whether that be by writing and debugging software, coordinating family’s schedules or picking a March Madness bracket, the bet is that autonomous AI will soon handle many of our everyday tasks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Freeman and Heyward are already coordinating family schedules and travel — the Heywards are based in Chicago — to all get together in California this offseason.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

CISA, the agency charged with the mandate of leading the nation’s collective defense against cyber threats and coordinating national incident responses, appears unprepared to meet this moment.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

Washington State Police began coordinating with the Skamania County sheriff.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Related Words

• agree
• harmonize
• integrate
• organize
• regulate