strategize

American  

[strat-i-jahyz] / ˈstræt ɪˌdʒaɪz /

especially British, strategise

verb (used without object)

strategized, strategizing

1. to make up or determine strategy; plan.

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Usage

What does strategize mean? To strategize is to plan or create a plan or strategy for a specific reason or goal. A strategy is a plan for a course of action, especially one that prepares for multiple scenarios or situations. Strategize is commonly used in any context that involves extensive planning, especially the military, business, politics, and sports. Example: One candidate had clearly strategized before the debate and knew how to answer every question and respond to every attack. The other candidate was obviously winging it.

Etymology

Origin of strategize

First recorded in 1970–75; strateg(y) + -ize

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Explanation

When you work on a plan with the aim of achieving a goal, you strategize. If you don't strategize before the big debate, you'll probably be unprepared and unconvincing. You and your sister should strategize before presenting your proposal for higher allowances to your mom. That means you'll come up with a game plan to achieve your goal: convincing her that ten dollars a week makes sense. Chess players strategize too, studying the board for possible moves and planning ahead to ultimately put their opponent's king in check mate. Strategize and strategy were first used as military terminology, from a root meaning "military commander."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

strategize strategized strategizing

Carr, who will help the offensive staff strategize, says the new Bruins’ new coach is a leader of men.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

They also make it exceedingly difficult for pro se petitioners filing on their own behalf to strategize the best approach and avoid being procedurally barred.

From Slate ● May 29, 2026

Athletes strategize their transfer path early in high school to maximize negotiations with colleges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026

The company has been working with consultants from Bain & Co. to strategize its cost-cutting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

But King needed time to reflect and strategize without Johnson’s notorious arm-twisting.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

And they strategized to boost the influence of those ideas in the global policy response to climate change.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

Ariane strategized with Epstein on pushing back, and thrust the matter into public view by filing a lawsuit in 2015 to control using the name in finance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

Asked if a triple play even crossed his mind as he strategized for the Rojas at-bat, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “No, not at all.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2024

Schmeltz, who is one of the leaders of the national Jewish on Campus Student Union, said the group has strategized on how to respond as protests multiplied.

From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2024

I recorded everyone’s techniques, and I strategized how best to beat them.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Those supports are a vital part of a long-term-care plan, and could do more to help stretch funds than any shuffling around of index funds or tax strategizing.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

There are always question marks hanging over “Doctor Who,” which intermittently swaps out its lead and secondary actors as a function of its narrative premise and practical strategizing, but never quite so many as now.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

Text messages between Altman and Shivon Zilis, Musk’s close associate and onetime OpenAI board member, who is the mother of four of his children, show the two strategizing on how to best manage Musk’s moods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

On homelessness, he said, he has a team strategizing to address the needs, and a medical team that works the streets, and a tiny home village is in the works.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2026

Barack and I both knew that the months of campaigning ahead would involve extra travel, extra strategizing, and extra worry.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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