organize

To plan an activity or put things in a clear, useful order.

• We organize a picnic every summer.
• She organized her notes by subject.
• Who is organizing the meeting?

How to use it: organize something by something (He organized the books by author.)

Similar words: arrange, plan

Common phrases: organize a party, organize something by something, organize your notes

To bring people together so they can work toward a shared goal.

• The neighbors organized to clean the park.
• She organized volunteers to deliver meals.
• Students are organizing against the proposed cuts.

How to use it: organize to do something (Residents organized to save their library.); organize someone to do something (We organized parents to help with lunch.)

Similar words: mobilize, rally

Common phrases: organize a campaign, organize people, organize to help

To form or join a workers’ group that acts together to improve pay and working conditions.

• The workers decided to organize.
• She organized employees at three factories.
• They organized into a union to demand safer conditions.

How to use it: organize into a union (The staff organized into a union last year.)

Similar words: unionize

Common phrases: organize workers, organize a union, organize into something

To give something the body parts and structure needed for life.

• The theory describes how nature organizes living matter.
• These processes organize the body during early development.
• The philosopher asked what power organizes a living being.

Common phrases: organize living matter, organize a body