optimize

What it means

1. To act optimistically or as an optimist.
2. transitiveTo make (something) optimal.

   We need to optimize the supply chain to reduce costs.

   1 more example

   As I have taken pains to point out, AI's goals and instructions may be quite different from the ones it reports it's using, instructions that may also be quite different from the ones we've given it. It may also be optimizing its "rewards" by masking its operations even from those who believe they're "controlling" the AI.

   2026 June 17, Charles Hugh Smith, What AI Is and Is Not-- or, When Electrocution of Innocents Becomes Profitable

3. transitiveTo make (something) more efficient, such as a computer program.

   The website was redesigned to optimize user experience.

   4 more examples

   He used software to optimize the performance of his computer.

   A high level of analyst expertise is required to optimize instrument parameters and correct for matrix interferences either during the sample preparation phase or the data analysis phase.

   2003, NIOSH (editors), NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods — Chapter R (XRD methods)

   Source-to-source program transformations which optimize the resulting code are central to the approach described here.

   1978, Guy L. Steele Jr., Rabbit: A Compiler for Scheme (Chapter 11)

   It is the policy of the United States to optimize and target Federal investments in workforce development to align with our country's reindustrialization needs.

   2025, Donald Trump, Executive Order 14278 (2025)

   Synonyms: enhance, hone, improve, perfect

In a sentence

We need to optimize the supply chain to reduce costs.

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
3. Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
4. Latinoptimus
5. Frenchoptim(isme)
6. Frenchoptimiste
7. Englishoptimistbf.
8. Englishoptimize

Back-formation from optimist. First attested in 1844.