organize

organize — verb

1. to plan and prepare all the practical details so an event, trip, or activity can

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to plan and prepare all the practical details so an event, trip, or activity can happen

Example

Priya organized a surprise dinner for her father's sixtieth birthday.

organize + event

The coach organized buses for the team after the late match.

organize + transport / practical support

Common collocations
  • organize a meeting
  • organize a trip
  • organize transport
Synonyms
  • arrange

    Often simpler and narrower; organize suggests handling more details.

  • plan

    Focuses on deciding what to do; organize includes practical preparation.

  • coordinate

    Often used when several people or parts must work together smoothly.

  • set up

    More informal, often for preparing equipment, rooms, or systems.

Antonyms
  • cancel

    Means stop the event or activity instead of making it happen.

  • neglect

    Suggests failing to do the needed preparation.

Grammar Patterns

organize something

organize to do something

Usage Note

Object is usually an event, trip, meeting, or the practical support around it. The to-infinitive pattern points to the action being prepared, as in organize to borrow chairs or organize to leave early.

Common Mistakes

The school organized that parents meet the teacher.
The school organized a meeting for parents to meet the teacher.
organize usually takes an event or plan, not a bare that-clause.

2. to put things, ideas, or work into a clear order or into a working system

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to put things, ideas, or work into a clear order or into a working system

Example

Leo organized the tools by size before fixing the broken gate.

organize + object + by + category

The nurse organized the patient notes into three colored folders.

organize + object + into + groups

Common collocations
  • organize your desk
  • organize information
  • organize your time
Synonyms
  • sort

    Often about separating items into types or groups.

  • arrange

    Can mean put in order, but often sounds less systematic than organize.

  • structure

    Emphasizes giving something a clear shape or framework.

  • manage

    Broader; may mean control or handle, not specifically create order.

Antonyms
  • scatter

    Suggests leaving things spread around without order.

  • mix up

    More informal; means put things into confusion.

Grammar Patterns

organize something

organize something into groups

Usage Note

Object is usually information, belongings, time, or work. Distinguish from ARRANGE (sense 1): this sense is about order and structure, not about making an event happen.

Common Mistakes

I organized my desk for three hours, and now the party is ready.
I organized the party for three hours, and now everything is ready.
use sense 1 for planning an event; this sense is for putting things in order.

3. to bring people together into a group that acts for one purpose, often for worke

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to bring people together into a group that acts for one purpose, often for workers' rights or local politics

Example

Factory workers organized into a union after the pay cuts.

organize into + group

The union leader organized the drivers into one larger group.

organize somebody into + group

Common collocations
  • organize a union
  • organize workers
  • organize into branches
Synonyms
  • unionize

    More specific; mainly about forming or joining a union.

  • mobilize

    Emphasizes getting people ready to act, not always creating a group.

  • form

    Very general; organize adds structure or collective purpose.

  • rally

    Often means gather support quickly around a cause.

Antonyms
  • divide

    Means split people apart instead of bringing them together.

  • disband

    Means break up an existing group or organization.

Grammar Patterns

organize into a union

organize somebody into a group

Usage Note

Often used with people acting together, especially workers, parents, or local residents. Common patterns are organize into + group and organize somebody into + group.

Common Mistakes

The workers organized the picnic into a union.
The workers organized themselves into a union.
this sense is about forming a group of people, not planning an event.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For verb/1, organize is wider than arrange. You can arrange a time or a table, but organize often suggests handling many details, people, or supplies so the event actually works. Plan focuses on deciding what you want to do before anything begins; organize includes the practical steps after that. Coordinate is useful when several people or parts must work smoothly together. Set up is more informal and is often used for preparing equipment, a room, or a system. You can plan a school fair in January, organize it in March, coordinate the volunteers on the day, and set up the tables that morning. If you only choose the date, plan is enough; if you book the hall, call parents, and order food, organize is the better word.

arrange ↗plan ↗coordinate ↗set up ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Organize came into English through French organiser and Medieval Latin organizare. Those forms go back to Latin organum and Greek organon, both meaning a tool or instrument. From the idea of parts working together in a useful way, the verb developed its modern meanings of arranging events, putting things into order, and bringing people together into a working group.