Organize Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms organize American [awr-guh-nahyz] / ˈɔr gəˌnaɪz / especially British, organise

verb (used with object)

organized, organizing

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.

verb (used without object)

organized, organizing

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

"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

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

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

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.

When Tehran shut down the internet to prevent people from organizing and information from leaking out, it activated a parallel internet network it had invested billions of dollars in building.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Transporting horses is already a highly complex operation under normal circumstances,” said Mohammed Jaber Al Khayareen, director of the local organizing committee for the Longines Global Champions Tour event in Doha.

From The Wall Street Journal

For writing, Beck said, it can organize your notes or perform “formulaic writing” tasks.

From Los Angeles Times

In the span of a few years and a handful of organized protests, P.A.I.N. successfully drove several prominent museums to reject Sackler money.

From Salon

LA28, the private nonprofit organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, was responsible for developing a human rights strategy around the Games.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

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.