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

Your attorney should coordinate your will, beneficiary designations, charitable gifts and executor stipulations so they all work like clockwork.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

On Thursday, the National Drought Group announced that it will begin meeting weekly - instead of monthly, as usual - to coordinate the ongoing response.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The findings show how the frontoparietal cortex helps organize information and coordinate responses involving both the brain and the body.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 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

At the very center of the coordinate system—where the two axes cross—sits a zero.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

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

Mystery Vacations, a U.K.-based online travel agency that coordinates the packages, offers gift cards as a thank you when customers post about their trips online.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

In his statement, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said the "geographical coordinates of the route" had been agreed with Oman.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 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

There are no coordinates, no way of directing rescuers to a particular place, no pointers to towns just off the map’s edge.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

TOKYO—Japan spent a record $98.7 billion to prop up the yen in the past month, as it undertook rare coordinated action with the U.S. to stabilize the currency.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 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

As the Atlantic reported this week, the “pushback was so overwhelming, so obviously coordinated, so ugly and personal that it became a story.”

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

Through a highly coordinated grassroots campaign, Nixon overcame a $15-million fundraising deficit against Vindman in a state where affordability, high property insurance costs and public infrastructure strain were top concerns for many voters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Harry noticed that he seemed much less coordinated on the ground.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

She retreated further from the public eye, avoiding press and coordinating donations through intermediaries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 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

But the complex job goes beyond the briefing room podium to include managing contentious relationships with the press, coordinating with other parts of the White House, and providing media advice to the president.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Midway through 2009, my small team and I began coordinating with West Wing policy people and meeting with experts inside and outside government to formulate a plan.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• agree
• harmonize
• integrate
• organize
• regulate