Definitions
01to organize people or tasks
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to organize different people or groups so that they work together effectively.
v. to bring the different elements of a complex activity or organization into a harmonious or efficient relationship.
Español:coordinar
“We need to coordinate our efforts to finish the project on time.”
“The disaster relief agency had to coordinate multiple volunteer groups to ensure that aid reached the remote villages before the storm arrived.”
Usage
Often used as a transitive verb requiring a direct object, such as a project or a team.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02to match things
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to choose things like clothes or furniture that look good together.
v. to select or arrange items, particularly clothing or decor, so that they complement one another aesthetically.
Español:coordinar
“She tried to coordinate her tie with the color of her shirt.”
“The interior designer chose to coordinate the curtains with the upholstery to create a unified atmosphere in the living room.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03map or math position
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Mathematics
n. a set of numbers or letters used to find the exact position of a point on a map or graph.
n. each of a group of numbers used to indicate the position of a point, line, or plane relative to a fixed reference system.
“The pilot entered the coordinates into the plane's navigation system.”
“By providing the exact GPS coordinates, the hikers allowed the rescue team to locate their position despite the heavy fog.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural when referring to a specific location.
04matching clothes
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Humorous
n. clothes that are designed to be worn together as a matching set.
n. items of clothing designed to be worn together as a matching or complementary set.
“She bought a new set of coordinates for the summer wedding.”
“He appeared in a striking set of linen coordinates, looking perhaps a bit too perfectly matched for a casual garden party.”
Teaching tip
In modern fashion contexts, this is often used slightly humorously to describe a very carefully planned outfit.
Synonyms
05equal in rank
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. having the same importance or rank as something else.
adj. equal in rank, quality, or significance; often used in linguistics to describe clauses of equal status.
“In the sentence 'I ran and he walked', the two parts are coordinate clauses.”
“The treaty established coordinate powers for both branches of the new government to prevent one from dominating the other.”
Usage
Commonly used in formal writing or technical linguistic analysis.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “coordinate” in context.
Verb
01. coordinate a response
“International leaders met to coordinate a response to the global climate crisis.”
verb + noun
02. coordinate and manage
“Her role is to coordinate and manage the various volunteer groups across the city.”
verb + and + verb
03. coordinate with colleagues
“You will need to coordinate with colleagues in the marketing department before launching the campaign.”
verb + prep + noun
Noun
04. effort to coordinate
“There has been a concerted effort to coordinate policy across all member states.”
noun + infinitive
05. failure to coordinate
“The mission failed due to a complete failure to coordinate the different military units.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
06. closely coordinate
“The two departments must closely coordinate their efforts to ensure the project's success.”
adv + verb
07. effectively coordinate
“The emergency services effectively coordinated the rescue operation during the flood.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“He will oversee joint naval defence, coordinate with member states and other maritime coalitions, and carry out missions under the coalition’s charter.” “Firefighters are required to coordinate their movements with the Lebanese army, which relays their request to a “deconfliction” group that includes the Israeli military.” “In order to ship coffee to Europe, Vietnamese and Brazilian suppliers will soon have to supply the GPS coordinates of their plantations.” Etymology
From Medieval Latin coōrdinātus, perfect passive participle of coōrdinō (“arrange together”), from co- + ōrdinō, equivalent to co- + ordinate. See -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more. See also ordain and ordinate.
From a substantivation of the above adjective, see Etymology 1 and -ate (noun-forming suffix) for more. Compare French coordonné.
From Medieval Latin coōrdinātus, see Etymology 1 and -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more. Compare French coordonner.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/coordinate
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0