Word
streamline
Phoneticsstream·line, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɹimˌɫaɪn/
UK/stɹˈiːmlaɪn/
Definition
v. to make a process or organization simpler and more effective. It can also mean to give something a smooth shape so it moves easily through air or water.
v. to improve the efficiency of a process or system by removing unnecessary steps. In a physical context, to design a form that offers minimal resistance to fluid flow.
Examples
“The company wants to streamline its hiring process.”
“By digitizing all paper records, the hospital managed to streamline patient admissions and reduce waiting times significantly.”
“Engineers worked to streamline the fuselage, ensuring that the aircraft could maintain high speeds while consuming significantly less fuel during transoceanic flights.”
Examples
simple
“The company wants to streamline its hiring process.”
contextual
“By digitizing all paper records, the hospital managed to streamline patient admissions and reduce waiting times significantly.”
complex
“Engineers worked to streamline the fuselage, ensuring that the aircraft could maintain high speeds while consuming significantly less fuel during transoceanic flights.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as a process, system, or physical object.
Real-World Examples
“One provision authorizes competitive grants for local governments that revise parking mandates and minimum lot sizes or streamline permitting and environmental review for new construction.” “Terabytes worth of credentials, many belonging to the world’s biggest and most sensitive organizations, have been exposed in a supply-chain attack on LiteLLM, an open source tool that streamlines AI-driven software development.” Etymology
From stream + line.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/streamline