organize

American  

[awr-guh-nahyz] / ˈɔr gəˌnaɪz /

especially British, organise

verb (used with object)

• organizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• organized,
  past participle,  past
• organizing
  present participle

1. to form as or into a whole consisting of interdependent or coordinated parts, especially for united action.

   to organize a committee.

   Synonyms:

   frame, dispose

   Antonyms:

   destroy

2. to systematize.

   to organize the files of an office.

   Synonyms:

   order

3. to give organic structure or character to.

   Cells become differentiated and organized into tissues.

4. to enlist or attempt to enlist into a labor union.

   to organize workers.

5. to enlist the employees of (a company) into a labor union; unionize.

   to organize a factory.

6. Informal. to put (oneself ) in a state of mental competence to perform a task.

   We can't have any slip-ups, so you'd better get organized.

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verb (used without object)

• organizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• organized,
  past participle,  past
• organizing
  present participle

1. to combine in an organized company, party, or the like.

2. to form a labor union.

   Management resisted all efforts to organize.

3. to assume organic structure.

organize British  

/ ˈɔːɡəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to form (parts or elements of something) into a structured whole; coordinate

2. (tr) to arrange methodically or in order

3. (tr) to provide with an organic structure

4. (tr) to enlist (the workers) of (a factory, concern, or industry) in a trade union

5. (intr) to join or form an organization or trade union

6. informal (tr) to put (oneself) in an alert and responsible frame of mind

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• organizability
  noun
• misorganize
  verb
• preorganize
  verb
• outorganize
  verb (used with object)
• organizable
  adjective
• unorganizable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• organizing
  present
• organized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• organize
  simple
• organizes
  simple
• have organized
  perfect
• has organized
  perfect
• am organizing
  progressive
• are organizing
  progressive
• is organizing
  progressive
• have been organizing
  perfect progressive
• has been organizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• organized
  simple
• had organized
  perfect
• was organizing
  progressive
• were organizing
  progressive
• had been organizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will organize
  simple
• will have organized
  perfect
• will be organizing
  progressive
• will have been organizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of organize

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin organizāre “to contrive, arrange,” equivalent to organ(um) organ + -izāre -ize

Explanation

If you systematically put something in order, you organize it. Your family might not understand the way you organize your kitchen if you keep shoelaces, dental floss, and a screwdriver in your silverware drawer. The verb organize also means to plan or orchestrate something. If you've agreed to organize the German club's bake sale, you'll probably spend some serious time transporting cupcakes and linzer torte to school. When a group of workers forms a union, this action is also described with the verb organize. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union, for example, was organized in 1900 in New York City by immigrant factory workers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

organize organizes organized organizing

Through the hotel window, the home of nearly 4 million residents appeared to organize itself around mythology.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

There is only space to optimize, and streamline, and organize.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

Investigators found that Chavez-DeRemer repeatedly used federal employees for personal errands, including sending her personal aide and executive assistant to her home during the workday to organize her bedroom closet.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

In 1964, physicists introduced the quark model to organize these bound states.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

He was determined to try again for the conquest of the South Pole, but before he could organize a new expedition, two other explorers headed for the frozen continent.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

"Understanding how matter organizes itself under extreme quantum conditions gives us new tools for designing and controlling quantum systems. While this is fundamental research, discoveries like this often become the foundation for tomorrow's quantum technologies."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

“We don’t bring any material aid,” said Sandra Rodríguez, part of a volunteer group that organizes clown shows and other diversions, speaking at a golf course that has become an official homeless encampment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents Association which organizes the dinner, said in June as she announced the re-do that "we will not allow an act of violence to have the last word."

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Taking one during the regatta can offer an “insider’s perspective of the races,” said Pierre Roinson, president of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, which organizes the regatta.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Observe: We’re a week out from November, and it’s starting to get chilly, so Jupe organizes this community outreach thing she calls Burgers and Blankets.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

St. Paul’s Cathedral organized a moving remembrance ceremony, and the British government organized buses so that as many American embassy staff as possible could attend.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

Carney organized the Toronto summit as part of his effort to curb Canada's dependence on the United States.

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

Large sections of the genome are normally organized into relatively distinct active and inactive regions known as compartments.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

It’s turning me into a design-school snob, because it makes me realize that the biggest thing you pay for in design school is the process of turning a creative thought into actual, organized output.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

They played cricket, swam in the pond, and even organized a few games of hide-and-seek for the smaller children in the village.

From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins

In 2023, the International Olympic Committee stripped Kremlev’s IBA of its role organizing Olympic boxing.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Devoted to rank-and-file labor organizing, it wants to put its people into key industries—logistics and public education, for example—and then embolden their unions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

He goes on many photo shoots with me, but does not bother to learn how to use the equipment or step up in organizing preproduction.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

That same year, Rosales moved back to L.A. and began organizing lowrider picnics at Legg Lake in Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

“I would not even consent that my wife should stay at home to rock the baby when she ought to be addressing a meeting or organizing a society.”

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• construct
• coordinate
• create
• establish
• form
• formulate
• regulate
• run
• set up