Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause two or more things to occur, operate, or indicate the same time or rate: To adjust or set things so they happen simultaneously or show identical timing.
   • To arrange or represent events so they coincide: To coordinate occurrences so they appear to happen together.
   • To make (sound in a motion picture) exactly simultaneous with the action: To align audio precisely with visual events in film.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To occur or operate at the same time: To happen simultaneously.
   • To be in agreement in time or rate: To match in timing or pace.

Usage Examples

• Verb (transitive):

  • Before the mission, the team leader asked everyone to synchronize their watches.
  • The director worked with the sound engineer to synchronize the dialogue with the actors' lip movements.
  • The software helps you synchronize the data between your phone and your computer.

• Verb (intransitive):

  • The traffic lights on this street are designed to synchronize, allowing for a smooth flow of cars.
  • Our schedules finally synchronized, so we could meet for lunch.

Advanced Usage

• "Synchronize with": To match the timing or operation of one thing with another.
  • The dancers must synchronize their movements with the music.
• In computing: Refers to the process of ensuring files or data are identical across multiple devices or systems.
  • The cloud service automatically synchronizes your documents across all your devices.

Variants and Related Words

• Synchronization (noun): The process or result of making things synchronous.
  • The synchronization of the clocks was crucial for the experiment.
• Synchronous (adjective): Happening or existing at the same time.
  • The students attended a synchronous online lecture.
• Synchronized (adjective): Operating in unison.
  • The swimmers performed a beautifully synchronized routine.

Synonyms

• Coordinate: To organize different elements to work together effectively.
• Align: To arrange things in a line or bring into agreement.
• Harmonize: To bring into consonance or accord.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Synchronize up: (Informal) To get things aligned or coordinated.
  • Let's synchronize up our plans before the meeting.

Related Idioms

• To be in sync: To be synchronized; to be in agreement or harmony.
  • After practicing for weeks, the band was finally in sync.

Verb

1. cause to indicate the same time or rate
   • synchronize your watches
2. operate simultaneously
   • The clocks synchronize
3. arrange or represent events so that they co-occur
   • synchronize biblical events
4. make (motion picture sound) exactly simultaneous with the action
   • synchronize this film
5. happen at the same time
6. make synchronous and adjust in time or manner
   • Let's synchronize our efforts