orchestrate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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to compose or arrange (music) for performance by an orchestra.
-
to arrange or manipulate, especially by means of clever or thorough planning or maneuvering.
to orchestrate a profitable trade agreement.
verb
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to score or arrange (a piece of music) for orchestra
-
to arrange, organize, or build up for special or maximum effect
Other Word Forms
- orchestrater noun
- orchestration noun
- orchestrator noun
- overorchestrate verb
- reorchestrate verb
- unorchestrated adjective
Etymology
Origin of orchestrate
First recorded in 1875–80; from French orchestr(er) (derivative of orchestre orchestra ) + -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The embrace of many of these models inside a system that can help orchestrate their use is the preferred route from many of the vendors.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
After the Ravens dinged him for his physical, it will be a difficult task for Las Vegas to orchestrate any new deal as favorable as the one it had struck with Baltimore.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
These hubs help orchestrate activity across networks, selecting the right systems for the job.
From Science Daily • Mar. 3, 2026
She felt responsible for the patient’s future, so she made up a diagnosis to orchestrate an admission.
From Slate • Jan. 26, 2026
What I had before me was a spectacle of wind and water, an earthquake of the senses, that even Hollywood couldn’t orchestrate.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.