alphabetize

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈælfəbəˌtaɪz/ UK /ˈælfəbɪtaɪz/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to arrange in alphabetical order

She offered to alphabetize the entire card catalogue.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to arrange in alphabetical... order sort arrange sequence

Word family

Derived forms alphabetizationalphabetizer

Related forms alphabet alphabetic

Etymology

From alphabet + -ize; from Latin alphabētum, from Ancient Greek álphabētos, from the first two Greek letter names álpha and bêta.

alphabētum la-cla álpha bêta Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# alphabetize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈælfəbəˌtaɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈælfəbɪtaɪz/

## Meanings
1. to arrange in alphabetical order

## Examples
- She offered to alphabetize the entire card catalogue.

## Synonyms
- order
- sort
- arrange
- sequence

## Derived Forms
- alphabetization
- alphabetizer

## Related Forms
- alphabet
- alphabetic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: alphabētum
- Root: álpha bêta

## Etymology
From alphabet + -ize; from Latin alphabētum, from Ancient Greek álphabētos, from the first two Greek letter names álpha and bêta.

## AI Etymology
Alphabetize is a verb meaning "to arrange in alphabetical order". Historically, it is from alphabet + -ize; from Latin alphabētum, from Ancient Greek álphabētos, from the first two Greek letter names álpha and bêta. The visible construction is part of the etymology: alphabetize is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The modern meaning, "to arrange in alphabetical order", follows the base word through the added English ending. The historical chain links Latin alphabētum with Ancient Greek álpha bêta. Close English family members include alphabetization, alphabetizer, alphabet, and alphabetic.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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