orchestrate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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to compose or arrange (music) for performance by an orchestra.
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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
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to arrange, organize, or build up for special or maximum effect
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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orchestraternoun
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orchestrationnoun
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orchestratornoun
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overorchestrateverb
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reorchestrateverb
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unorchestratedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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orchestratesimple
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orchestratessimple
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have orchestratedperfect
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has orchestratedperfect
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am orchestratingprogressive
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are orchestratingprogressive
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is orchestratingprogressive
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have been orchestratingperfect progressive
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has been orchestratingperfect progressive
Past
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orchestratedsimple
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had orchestratedperfect
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was orchestratingprogressive
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were orchestratingprogressive
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had been orchestratingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of orchestrate
First recorded in 1875–80; from French orchestr(er) (derivative of orchestre orchestra ) + -ate 1
Explanation
To orchestrate is to design or organize something, like a plan or a project. You could orchestrate an orchestra or you could just orchestrate a yard sale. An orchestra is a large group of classical musicians led by a conductor: it consists of many people playing together. Similarly, when we talk about orchestrating, someone is coordinating the activities of many people to accomplish something. The manager of an office orchestrates the business. A coach orchestrates the play of the team. Terrorist leaders orchestrate attacks. Orchestrating is like directing, and it applies to many more things than just music.
Vocabulary lists containing orchestrate
The Devil's Arithmetic
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The Fault in Our Stars
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"Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry, Introduction and Afterword
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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.
See Examples For:
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to act "with full force against the terrorists and those who orchestrate and sponsor them".
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
She succeeds Joe Vernachio, who was appointed in 2024 to help orchestrate a turnaround for the struggling sneaker brand.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026
He strongly implies she was instructed to orchestrate her own arrest in order to create propaganda for the movement.
From Salon ● May 20, 2026
Hool used to orchestrate in-person open calls in far-flung locales to match the perfect performer to each part.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026
By “duty,” Jefferson meant his obligation to orchestrate the opposition to Adams’s presidency.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
The regime doesn’t release official economic data, tightly controls information and orchestrates what visitors can see.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
The platform orchestrates and automates customers’ decision-making through AI.
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
Elizabeth Parmelee, a scholar of democracy and civic education at Metropolitan State University of Denver, explained how Colorado orchestrates its elections, which are conducted by mail, but without postmarks.
From Salon ● Jan. 12, 2026
He is so key for them with the way he orchestrates everything.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2025
Sammy orchestrates a reintroduction for me with Stone’s boss, one of the biggest numbers runners in Harlem: West Indian Archie.
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
All this happens after Zack turns up with a missing toe, which Anna suspects Max orchestrated.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
Last month, Weiss orchestrated a dramatic shake-up at the iconic “60 Minutes” news program, with top executives and three well-known correspondents tossed out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
According to an obviously orchestrated set of phone calls to friends, though, the guy has never been better.
From Slate ● Jul. 11, 2026
The super-fight has been orchestrated by Alalshikh, with Joshua and Fury's teams dealing directly with the Saudis over their contracts.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
And when Ana turns to me, I realize that our solitude has been orchestrated.
From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour
In addition to orchestrating different AI models, the AI Control Tower is now increasingly serving as a gateway to vet nonhuman identities.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
After her departure from the cabinet in November 2024, Haigh maintained a high profile on the backbenches, playing a key role in orchestrating the Labour rebellion against proposed welfare cuts last year.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The company is in the early stages of orchestrating a turnaround under its newly appointed Chief Executive Enrique Lores.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Apple on Friday sued OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company of orchestrating a campaign to steal the iPhone maker's trade secrets as it tries to develop its own consumer hardware device.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Headmarveller MacDonald walked ahead to dole out instructions while Headmarveller Rivera moved on top of the Arcanum seal, orchestrating a pose.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
