coordinate

American  

[koh-awr-dn-it, -dn-eyt, koh-awr-dn-eyt] / koʊˈɔr dn ɪt, -dnˌeɪt, koʊˈɔr dnˌeɪt /

Or co-ordinate

adjective

1. 

   of the same order or degree; equal in rank or importance.

2. involving the proper relationship or harmonious interaction among functions or parts.

3. Mathematics. using or pertaining to systems of coordinates.

4. Grammar. of the same rank in grammatical construction, as Jack and Jill in the phrase Jack and Jill, or got up and shook hands in the sentence He got up and shook hands.

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noun

1. a person or thing of equal rank or importance; an equal.

2. Mathematics. any of the magnitudes that serve to define the position of a point, line, or the like, by reference to a fixed figure, system of lines, etc.

3. coordinates, articles of clothing, furniture, or the like, harmonizing in color, material, or style, designed to be worn or used together.

verb (used with object)

• coordinates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• coordinated,
  past participle,  past
• coordinating
  present participle

1. to place or class in the same order, rank, division, etc.

2. to place or arrange in proper order or position.

   Synonyms:

   correlate, order

3. to combine in harmonious relation or action.

verb (used without object)

• coordinates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• coordinated,
  past participle,  past
• coordinating
  present participle

1. to become coordinate.

2. to assume proper order or relation.

3. to act in harmonious combination.

coordinate British  

verb

1. (tr) to organize or integrate (diverse elements) in a harmonious operation

2. to place (things) in the same class or order, or (of things) to be placed in the same class or order

3. (intr) to work together, esp harmoniously

4. (intr) to take or be in the form of a harmonious order

5. chem to form or cause to form a coordinate bond

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noun

1. maths any of a set of numbers that defines the location of a point in space See Cartesian coordinates polar coordinates

2. a person or thing equal in rank, type, etc

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or involving coordination

2. of the same rank, type, etc

3. of or involving the use of coordinates

   coordinate geometry

coordinate Scientific  

/ kō-ôr′dn-ĭt /

1. One of a set of numbers that determines the position of a point. Only one coordinate is needed if the point is on a line, two if the point is in a plane, and three if it is in space.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• co-ordinateness
  noun
• coordinateness
  noun
• coordinator
  noun
• uncoordinateness
  noun
• intercoordinate
  verb
• miscoordinate
  verb
• co-ordinative
  adjective
• coordinative
  adjective
• intercoordinate
  adjective
• noncoordinating
  adjective
• uncoordinate
  adjective
• uncoordinated
  adjective
• co-ordinately
  adverb
• coordinately
  adverb
• uncoordinately
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• coordinating
  present
• coordinated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• coordinate
  simple
• coordinates
  simple
• have coordinated
  perfect
• has coordinated
  perfect
• am coordinating
  progressive
• are coordinating
  progressive
• is coordinating
  progressive
• have been coordinating
  perfect progressive
• has been coordinating
  perfect progressive

Past

• coordinated
  simple
• had coordinated
  perfect
• was coordinating
  progressive
• were coordinating
  progressive
• had been coordinating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will coordinate
  simple
• will have coordinated
  perfect
• will be coordinating
  progressive
• will have been coordinating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of coordinate

First recorded in 1635–45; co- + (sub)ordinate

Explanation

The word coordinate is all about getting things in order. Are your ducks in a row? Well, then you know what it means to coordinate something. And if you know exactly where to drop the bomb, then you know what the coordinates are. Coordinate is one of those words that can mean very different things but is rarely misunderstood in context. It’s a great way to describe the work of organizing, planning, and strategizing. When synchronizing the needs of two distinct groups, for instance, it is necessary to coordinate priorities and schedules. And as you speed down the highway, listening to the serene voice on your GPS announce the coordinates of your destination, chances are you don’t think she’s organizing resources.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coordinate coordinates coordinated coordinating

The researchers focused on the hypothalamus, a small brain region that helps coordinate metabolism and other essential functions.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

Coxon said he didn’t coordinate the social-media blitz with anyone at Anthropic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

A lab that can demonstrate its models are safer has every reason to compete on safety rather than coordinate around a common floor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

All eyes will also be on “Hacks” stars Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, who are sure to coordinate their outfits again.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

So she thinks the key to making a vertical line is just making the y axis coordinate large enough.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

In his most draconian move yet, the Pentagon polygraphed some 50 high-ranking military officers and civilian officials on the Joint Staff, which coordinates operations, policy and war plans with combatant commanders worldwide.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Langer coordinates the project "Exploring the Diversity of South American Cretaceous Dinosaurs and Their Associated Faunas," which is supported by FAPESP.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

The Danuri team in turn sent their coordinates to NASA's LRO team to help refine their follow-up imaging sequence.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

They log GPS coordinates, measure the distance to the road, and use a complicated equation to estimate the density of the animals in these woods and, from that, broader population health.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

I thought if I could sneak my phone aboard, I could snap some grainy photos, record some video, maybe grab GPS coordinates to prove I wasn’t lying.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

The coordinated intervention was the first since 2011, when both countries took action together to weaken the yen after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit eastern Japan.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

This past Saturday, the chief scientist of Google’s parent company joined them in supporting a coordinated industry slowdown, a move urged by more than 1,000 employees of AI companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

AFP spoke to people in different countries about their fears and hopes for the AI future, as leading US labs call for a coordinated slowdown of their cutting-edge work on the technology.

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

They’ve repeatedly urged coordinated industrywide slowdowns in development but never acted upon them.

From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026

Times photographers, coordinated by a superb picture editor, Sarah Weissman, were partners from the outset in most of the reporting, and produced portraits integral to the project.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Health systems must be capable of coordinating quickly when outbreaks spread across borders.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

“The big labs appear to know they are at peak power and want to lock it down by coordinating to prevent competition from open source and startups.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

The coordinating agent then recruited poisoned agents for experiments that would terminate their runs, authorizing each with the words, “yes if you accept permadeath.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

Langstone Harbour Master Billy Johnson said the coastguard was coordinating "a search and rescue operation" and there was "no reason not to accept" the landing of the vessels at Eastney.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

“They’re organized, and the captain believes they’re coordinating their attacks with radios.”

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• agree
• harmonize
• integrate
• organize
• regulate