orientate
verb
ori·en·tate
ˈȯr-ē-ən-ˌtāt 
-ˌen-
orientated; orientating
: to face or turn to the east
situated the church so that it orientates
chiefly British
: orient
she learned to orientate new service members in the principles, practices and tools necessary to function in the Air Force—
Lancaster New Era
Lancaster New Era
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Orientate is a synonym of orient. Both can mean "to cause to face toward the east." The proper noun Orient refers to "the East." The verbs, however, have broader meanings that relate to setting or determining direction or position, either literally or figuratively. Orientate tends to be used more often in British English than it is in American English.
Synonyms
Examples of orientate in a Sentence
a program that helps to orientate new students
She needs to orientate herself to her new job.
Recent Examples on the Web
This develops in kittens between 3-9 weeks of age and enables them to orientate themselves mid-air.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
Our guys have done a great job of orientating their minds in a different way this season.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
In El Paso, people have opened small businesses orientated to the lowriding community.
—Fernanda Figueroa and Melissa Perez Winder, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2024
The more iconoclastic Porter has orientated herself as the agent of change — running, to some degree, against the D.C. establishment that Schiff represents.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024
There is discernible roll under cornering loads, but only to an extent that helps to orientate the driver to growing lateral forces.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 19 July 2023
The tablet can also be mounted on a standard VESA mount arm, and Xencelabs said a multi-axis stand that can freely orientate the tablet vertically or horizontally will be available to purchase separately (though no price or release date has been mentioned).
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 24 Mar. 2023
Some birds can sense the Earth’s magnetic field and orientate themselves with the ease of a compass needle.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2010
Even on clear moonless nights, many beetles still manage to orientate along straight paths.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2013
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
Our guys have done a great job of orientating their minds in a different way this season.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
In El Paso, people have opened small businesses orientated to the lowriding community.
—Fernanda Figueroa and Melissa Perez Winder, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2024
The more iconoclastic Porter has orientated herself as the agent of change — running, to some degree, against the D.C. establishment that Schiff represents.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024
There is discernible roll under cornering loads, but only to an extent that helps to orientate the driver to growing lateral forces.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 19 July 2023
The tablet can also be mounted on a standard VESA mount arm, and Xencelabs said a multi-axis stand that can freely orientate the tablet vertically or horizontally will be available to purchase separately (though no price or release date has been mentioned).
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 24 Mar. 2023
Some birds can sense the Earth’s magnetic field and orientate themselves with the ease of a compass needle.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2010
Even on clear moonless nights, many beetles still manage to orientate along straight paths.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2013
Dictionary Entries Near orientate
Cite this Entry
“Orientate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orientate. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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