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

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

President Donald Trump recently announced an AI taskforce, which he said will coordinate engagement between the government and all parties, including AI companies, consumers, and religious groups.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

She decided to try it out by letting Muse coordinate her son’s 13th birthday party.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Unlike federal law enforcement, local police routinely coordinate with election officials around polling place security.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026

A major part of the work involved microglia, immune cells that help coordinate the brain's response to injury and inflammation.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

If a hiker gets lost in the mountains, people will coordinate a search.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Law enforcement often coordinates with election officials to keep officials and voters safe without their presence intimidating voters, he said.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026

After imaging the site, the Danuri mission provided the crater coordinates to NASA's LRO team, helping researchers improve the targeting of their own observations.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 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

They log GPS coordinates, measure the distance to the road, and use a complicated equation to estimate the density of the animals in these woods and, from that, broader population health.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

SABIO, SHALE: Provide architectural archival context for immediate area surrounding coordinates 39.605829, -75.718580 from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 1999.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

“We’re extremely proud of these Star Ratings,” Chief Executive Jim Rechtin said, attributing the improvement to employees’ efforts to provide members with high-quality care and coordinated support.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

“This month our payout checks were half what they normally are,” says Liz Miele, the comedian who organized the coordinated posting effort, “Next month they’re going to be zero.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

At the center of the study is the coordinated motion of positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

When electrons and protons move in a coordinated way, molecules can avoid intermediate steps that would otherwise require more energy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

Now it had redundant solar panels, whose frequent bursts of coordinated electricity were strong enough to knock back an elephant.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer

Immune cells play a central role in coordinating the body's response to injury.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said federal authorities were coordinating response efforts with state and local governments.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

It also called for climate resilience to become a national priority, led by a Cabinet-level minister coordinating preparedness across government and supporting long-term investment.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

“The Task Force shall act as a coordinating body to ensure that the U.S. remains at the forefront of SI development while protecting the American people,” the task force charter states.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

Musicians must also respond immediately to their own sound through acute music listening ability, often coordinating with other musicians around them.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• agree
• harmonize
• integrate
• organize
• regulate