orientate

American

[awr-ee-uhn-teyt, -en-, ohr-] / ˈɔr i ənˌteɪt, -ɛn-, ˈoʊr- /

verb (used with or without object)

Chiefly British.

orientated, orientating

orient.

orientate British

/ ˈɔːrɪɛnˌteɪt /

verb

a variant of orient

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

reorientate

verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of orientate

1840–50; < French orient(er) “to orient ” + -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.

“It’s an actual piece of physical feedback you can get to help orientate yourself,” says Calahan Young, who is headed to his second Paralympics with the U.S. team.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2024

In gymnastics, gymnasts rely on spotting — meaning focusing on a space to orientate their positioning — to land twists and master balance.

From Salon • Aug. 1, 2024

According to the Elysée palace, President Macron has "made the choice to orientate this visit towards the future… and lay down the basis for a relaunching of the relationship".

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2022

Bells inside the ball help orientate the players by indicating the direction of the oncoming ball.

From The Guardian • Aug. 26, 2021

The extra syllable in orientate is ugly and unnecessary, though not a federal offense.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023