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Glite Dictionary
to orientate

to orientate

6.5
To find your position and get used to a new place or situation
  • verb
  • /ˈɔːrɪənˌteɪt/
  • UK
translation icon : orientar
  • At the start of the hike, we stopped to orientate ourselves using the map and the sun.

The way that the light will then be orientated will depend on the magnetic field.

Examples

  • To successfully navigate the city, you need to orientate yourself with the major landmarks.

  • After arriving at the new school, she took a moment to orientate herself before heading to class.

  • Give me a chance to orientate myself for the day.

    The Bronze (2016)

  • We can use that to orientate.

    Skeleton Man (2004)

  • First of all, we have to get orientated.

    The Haunting (1963)

  • If you have not been fully orientated, you must file a complaint with Personnel!

    The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

  • Why don't you go on back there, get yourself orientated?

    Scent of a Woman (1992)

  • Once you get settled, why don't you and I take a tour of the property and get orientated.

    Homestead (2024)

Synonyms

to position
vsto orientate
159 2.5

To put something in a particular place carefully

is about finding or adjusting orientation rather than simple placement
to rotate
vsto orientate
144 3.0

To turn around a central point, like a wheel or planet

is about determining or adjusting direction rather than physical rotation
to orient
vsto orientate
20 4.1

To find where you are in the area around you

also involves adjusting direction or position relative to surroundings
to reorient
vsto orientate
8 5.6

To change the direction or main focus of something

focuses on determining or adjusting initial direction rather than shifting focus later
to orient oneself
vsto orientate
2 4.9

To find where you are and what to do in a new place

is about physical direction or position relative to surroundings rather than familiarity
to reorientate
vsto orientate
  • UK
6.3

To adjust direction or focus after a change

means finding or adjusting direction initially rather than redoing alignment

Antonyms

to disorient
22 5.2

To make a person feel confused about where they are or what to do

How Oriented

to navigate
148 3.6
to orientate
  • UK
6.5
to feel lost
23 3.6

Surface Forms

orientate infinitive
orientated past
orientated past participle
orientating present participle
orientates third person singular

Morphology

orientate = orient (transparent) = orient + ate

Formed by the clear verb-forming suffix '-ate' on the familiar verb 'orient', preserving the same basic meaning.

Etymology

Orientate comes from the root orient, from an old word oriens meaning 'east' or 'rising'. It first meant 'turn toward the east', like facing the rising sun, so to orientate is to find or set your direction, which is why we also use orientation when someone is learning a new place.