Meaning & use
alphabeticalize
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Meaning
verbtransitive
To arrange items in the order of the alphabet.
Grammar: Takes an object: alphabeticalize the list. Often used in computing and library contexts.
Patterns
- alphabeticalize something
- alphabeticalize a list
Please alphabeticalize the names before submitting the report.
The software can automatically alphabeticalize your references.
She spent hours alphabeticalizing the index cards.
Word forms
| third person singular | alphabeticalizes |
|---|---|
| past tense | alphabeticalized |
| past participle | alphabeticalized |
| present participle | alphabeticalizing |
Common combinations
- alphabeticalize a list
- Can you alphabeticalize this list of contacts?
- alphabeticalize by last name
- The teacher asked us to alphabeticalize the papers by last name.
- alphabeticalize the entries
- The editor will alphabeticalize the entries in the glossary.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sort
- More general; 'sort' can be by any criterion, while 'alphabeticalize' specifically means by alphabet.
- order
- Broader; 'order' can be numerical, chronological, etc.
Opposites
Word family
- alphabetical adjective
- Arranged in the order of the alphabet.
- alphabetically adverb
- In alphabetical order.
- alphabetize verb
- A more common variant meaning the same.
Commonly confused: alphabeticalize or alphabetize?
alphabeticalize vs alphabetize
The standard American spelling; 'alphabeticalize' is a longer variant that is less common but understood.
Practice
The librarian asked me to ___ the books by author.
Choose one answer.
The verb 'alphabeticalize' fits after 'to'. 'Alphabet' is a noun, 'alphabetical' is an adjective, and 'alphabetically' is an adverb, so none can be the main verb here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “alphabeticalize”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.