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Alphabetize: meaning, definitions and examples

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alphabetize

 

[ ˌæl.fəˈbɛt.aɪz ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

order listing

To arrange words or items in the order of the letters of the alphabet. This process is often used in libraries and educational contexts to make information easier to find efficiently.

Synonyms

arrange, order, organize, sort

Examples of usage

  • We need to alphabetize the book titles for the library catalog.
  • Please alphabetize the names on the guest list.
  • The teacher asked us to alphabetize our vocabulary words.
  • Can you alphabetize these files for me?
  • It's helpful to alphabetize your notes for easier reviewing.

Translations

Translations of the word "alphabetize" in other languages:

🇵🇹 alfabetizar

🇮🇳 वर्णानुक्रम में व्यवस्थित करना

🇩🇪 alphabetisieren

🇮🇩 mengurutkan alfabet

🇺🇦 алфавітний порядок

🇵🇱 uporządkować alfabetycznie

🇯🇵 アルファベット順に並べる

🇫🇷 mettre par ordre alphabétique

🇪🇸 ordenar alfabéticamente

🇹🇷 alfabetik sıraya koymak

🇰🇷 알파벳순으로 정렬하다

🇸🇦 ترتيب أبجدي

🇨🇿 seřadit abecedně

🇸🇰 zoradiť abecedne

🇨🇳 按字母顺序排列

🇸🇮 urediti abecedno

🇮🇸 raða í stafrófsröð

🇰🇿 әріптік тәртіп бойынша орналастыру

🇬🇪 ალფაბეტური წესით დალაგება

🇦🇿 alfabetik sıraya düzəltmək

🇲🇽 ordenar alfabéticamente

Etymology

The word 'alphabetize' comes from the term 'alphabet', which is derived from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet: alpha and beta. The practice of arranging items in alphabetical order began with the development of written language and the need for organization. The process of alphabetization became formalized in the 19th century as libraries and educational institutions sought more systematic ways to categorize information. The verb 'alphabetize' specifically emerged in English in the early 20th century, reflecting a growing emphasis on organizational methods in various fields, including education and information management. As communication expanded and records became more complex, the need for clear and consistent ordering of text grew, thus solidifying the use of the term in modern contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,399, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.