synchronize

[ sing-kruh-nahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, syn·chro·nized, syn·chro·niz·ing.

1. to cause to indicate the same time, as one timepiece with another:

   Synchronize your watches.

2. to cause to go on, move, operate, work, etc., at the same rate and exactly together:

   They synchronized their steps and walked on together.

3. Movies, Television.
   1. to cause (sound and action) to match precisely:

      to synchronize the sound of footsteps with the actor's movements.

   2. to match the sound and action in (a scene).
4. to harmonize or bring into alignment:

   To be at peace with yourself you must synchronize your lifestyle with your values.

5. to cause (accounts or narratives) to agree in the timing and sequence of events, or to arrange (events) in a way that shows their occurrence in the same time or period:

   The early church fathers did not attempt to synchronize the four gospels.

   This chart synchronizes inventions that occurred simultaneously in different parts of the world.

6. Computers. sync ( def 4 ).
7. to adjust the periodicities of (two or more electrical or mechanical devices) so that the periods are equal or integral multiples or fractions of each other.

verb (used without object)

, syn·chro·nized, syn·chro·niz·ing.

1. to occur at the same time or coincide or agree in time.
2. to go on, move, operate, work, etc., at the same rate and exactly together; recur together.
3. Computers. sync ( def 7 ).

synchronize

/ ˈsɪŋkrəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. whenintr, usually foll by with to occur or recur or cause to occur or recur at the same time or in unison
2. to indicate or cause to indicate the same time

   synchronize your watches

3. to download files, esp music or video files, from a PC to a portable device such as an iPod, or to upload files from the device to a PC
4. tr films to establish (the picture and soundtrack records) in their correct relative position
5. tr to designate (events) as simultaneous

Derived Forms

• ˌsynchroniˈzation, noun
• ˈsynchroˌnizer, noun

Other Words From

• syn·chro·ni·za·tion [sing-kr, uh, -nahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• syn·chro·niz·er noun
• de·syn·chro·ni·za·tion noun
• de·syn·chro·nize verb (used with object) desynchronized desynchronizing
• un·syn·chro·nized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of synchronize¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Greek synchronízein “to be contemporary with”; from sýnchron(os) synchronous + -izein -ize

Example Sentences

The goal: to synchronize the lights on the hats.

From Los Angeles Times

During these sessions, music played while infants were given instruments and researchers taught caregivers how to synchronize their babies' movement with music.

From Science Daily

Players who have rest time between games or have not traveled across time zones for an away match are more able to synchronize their body with the local time.

From Science Daily

Using radio waves, atomic clocks continuously send signals that synchronize our computers, phones and wristwatches.

From Science Daily

They synchronize all their tribe’s pup births to happen at once, so nobody ever figures out whose daddy is whose.

From Salon

Related Words

• adjust
• harmonize
• integrate
• mesh