alphabetize

[ al-fuh-bi-tahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, al·pha·bet·ized, al·pha·bet·iz·ing.

1. to put or arrange in alphabetical order.
2. to express by or furnish with an alphabet.

alphabetize

/ ˈælfəbəˌtaɪz /

verb

1. to arrange in conventional alphabetical order
2. to express by an alphabet

Derived Forms

• ˌalphabetiˈzation, noun
• ˈalphabetˌizer, noun

Other Words From

• al·pha·bet·i·za·tion [al-f, uh, -bet-, uh, -, zey, -sh, uh, n, -bi-t, uh, -], noun
• alpha·bet·izer noun
• mis·alpha·bet·ize verb (used with object) misalphabetized misalphabetizing
• un·alpha·bet·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alphabetize¹

First recorded in 1865–70; alphabet + -ize

Example Sentences

Bella, 15, arrived with a stack of notebooks alphabetized by subject, pencils sorted by color and a binder that read: “High school — magical years!”

From New York Times

A local mortuary working with the county took possession of the other four bodies and the cremated remains and has since sorted and alphabetized the cremated remains.

From New York Times

“It’s hard to see your ignorance alphabetized,” he said.

From New York Times

Her spices were alphabetized, her cutlery all had to face the same direction in the drawer and her chocolate chip cookies were somehow all identical.

From Salon

And instead of organizing the case from top to bottom, I alphabetize each individual shelf so that when it’s time to add a book, I don’t have to shift the entire system.

From New York Times