Meanings
present singular third person optimizes · participle present optimizing · participle past optimized · past optimized · alternative optimise
- To act optimistically or as an optimist.
- 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 - 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) - intransitiveTo become optimal.
Synonyms & antonyms
More synonyms by meaning
verbmodify to achieve maximum efficiency in storage capacity or time or cost
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
- Latinoptimus
- Frenchoptim(isme)
- Frenchoptimiste
- Englishoptimistbf.
- Englishoptimize
Back-formation from optimist. First attested in 1844.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian оптимист съм, оптимизирам
- оптимист съм (optimist săm)to act optimistically
- оптимизирам (optimiziram)to make (something) optimal
- оптимизирам се (optimiziram se)to become optimal
Chinese Mandarin 优化, 优化
- 优化 (yōuhuà)to make (something) optimal
- 优化 (yōuhuà)to make (something) more efficient
- 优化 (yōuhuà)to become optimal
Czech optimalizovat, optimalizovat
- optimalizovatto make (something) optimal
- optimalizovatto make (something) more efficient
Danish optimere, optimere
- optimereto make (something) optimal
- optimereto make (something) more efficient
- optimereto become optimal
Dutch optimistisch zijn/handelen, optimaliseren
- optimistisch zijn/handelento act optimistically
- optimaliserento make (something) optimal
- perfectionerento make (something) optimal
- optimaliserento make (something) more efficient
- verbeterento make (something) more efficient
- optimaliserento become optimal
- verbeterento become optimal
Finnish optimoida, optimoida
- optimoidato make (something) optimal
- optimoidato make (something) more efficient
- tehostaato make (something) more efficient
- optimoidato become optimal
French agir en optimiste, optimiser
- agir en optimisteto act optimistically
- optimiserto make (something) optimal
- optimiserto make (something) more efficient
- s'optimiserto become optimal
German optimieren, optimieren
- optimierento make (something) optimal
- optimierento make (something) more efficient
Greek βελτιστοποιώ
- βελτιστοποιώ (veltistopoió)to make (something) optimal
Hungarian optimalizál, optimalizál
- optimalizálto make (something) optimal
- optimalizálto make (something) more efficient
Indonesian mengoptimalkan
- mengoptimalkanto make (something) optimal
Italian ottimizzare, ottimizzare
- ottimizzareto make (something) optimal
- ottimizzareto make (something) more efficient
Māori whakaarotau, whakamarohi
- whakaarotauto make (something) optimal
- whakamarohito make (something) optimal
- arotauto make (something) more efficient
- whakaarotauto make (something) more efficient
- whakamarohito make (something) more efficient
Persian بهینیدن
- بهینیدنto make (something) more efficient
Polish optymalizować, optymizować
- optymalizowaćto make (something) optimal
- optymizowaćto make (something) more efficient
Portuguese otimizar
- otimizarto make (something) optimal
Romanian optimiza, optimiza
- optimizato make (something) optimal
- optimizato make (something) more efficient
Russian оптимизи́ровать, оптимизи́ровать
- оптимизи́ровать (optimizírovatʹ)to make (something) optimal
- оптимизи́ровать (optimizírovatʹ)to make (something) more efficient
- оптимизи́роваться (optimizírovatʹsja)to become optimal
Spanish optimizar, optimar
- optimizarto act optimistically
- optimarto make (something) optimal
- optimizarto make (something) optimal
- optimarto make (something) more efficient
- optimizarto make (something) more efficient
- eficientarto make (something) more efficient
- eficientizarto make (something) more efficient
Swedish optimera, optimera
- optimerato make (something) optimal
- optimerato make (something) more efficient
Ukrainian оптимізува́ти
- оптимізува́ти (optymizuváty)to make (something) optimal
Cite this entry
optimize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/optimize
“optimize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/optimize. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “optimize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/optimize.
Source: optimize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.