orchestrate

verb

or·​ches·​trate ˈȯr-kə-ˌstrāt How to pronounce orchestrate (audio)
orchestrated; orchestrating

transitive verb

1
a
: to compose or arrange (music) for an orchestra
The composer orchestrated the music for the symphony orchestra.
b
: to provide with orchestration
orchestrate a ballet
2
: to arrange or combine so as to achieve a desired or maximum effect
orchestrated preparations for the banquet
a carefully orchestrated stunt
orchestrator noun
or less commonly orchestrater

Examples of orchestrate in a Sentence

He recently orchestrated a musical. She orchestrated the entire event. It's still unclear who was responsible for orchestrating the attack. A strike was orchestrated by union members.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
O'Donnell, a staunch critic of the president who moved to Ireland after Trump's 2024 election victory, accused him of orchestrating Colbert's cancellation as part of a broader effort to silence opposition voices. Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025 The antifa mercenaries function as a diabolical deus ex machina, orchestrating an elaborate bomb plot and laying waste to the town with military-grade weaponry. Nate Jones, Vulture, 18 July 2025 Authorities confirmed its authenticity in September 2023, then began orchestrating its repatriation to Italy. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 July 2025 In the summer of 2023, the mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin mounted a small mutiny, dispatching a convoy of tanks toward Moscow before striking a deal with Putin and, two months later, dying in a plane crash that was almost certainly orchestrated by the Kremlin. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for orchestrate

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of orchestrate was in 1858

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Orchestrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orchestrate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

orchestrate

verb
or·​ches·​trate ˈȯr-kə-ˌstrāt How to pronounce orchestrate (audio)
orchestrated; orchestrating
1
: to write or arrange music for an orchestra
2
: to arrange or combine so as to get the best effect
orchestration
ˌȯr-kə-ˈstrā-shən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on orchestrate

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