strategize
STRAT-uh-jyze
/ˈstrætədʒaɪz/
To devise a plan or strategy to achieve a specific goal, especially in a competitive situation.
Strategizing is a high-level mental activity that looks at the 'big picture' of the entire game or season.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'strategos,' which means 'army leader' or 'general.' It was originally the art of the general in war, later adapted to sports and business.
Word relationships
- mastermind: Mastermind implies a single brilliant person creating a plan, while strategize is often a collaborative process.
- improvise: To improvise is to act without a pre-arranged plan.
Commonly confused with
- plan: A plan can be simple (e.g., a plan to buy milk); strategizing implies a competitive or complex environment.
Word family
- strategy (noun): A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term goal.
- strategic (adjective): Relating to the identification of long-term goals.
Collocations
- strategize effectively
- strategize against
- carefully strategize
- re-strategize
Example sentences
- "The coaching staff met late into the night to strategize for the upcoming playoff game." Coaching
- "We need to strategize a way to shut down their star player in the second half." In-game adjustment
Memory hook
A general (strategos) stands on a 'strat'osphere looking down at the whole battlefield. The General's plan.
When not to use
Don't use it for small, immediate actions; use 'tactic' or 'plan' for those.
Fun facts
- The word was rarely used as a verb until the mid-20th century, when it became a staple of business and sports jargon.
Explore more words
devise, conceptualize, strategic, outmaneuver, orchestrate, envision
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.