What does synchronising mean?
Synchronising means arranging people, actions, processes, or equipment to happen at the same time or to remain consistent with one another. It is used when clocks are aligned, movements are coordinated, or digital devices exchange data so that they contain matching information. The phrase “synchronised swimming” illustrates the familiar idea of several performers making their movements precisely correspond. More generally, the verb can describe events that coincide naturally or are deliberately coordinated. The word is especially common in technical contexts involving audio, video, computing, transport, and scientific measurement, but it is equally natural in everyday descriptions of people working or moving together. Its spelling follows the usual British convention of using -ise, while American English generally uses -ize.
verbTo make two or more people, processes, or events happen at the same time or in exact correspondence with one another.
- To arrange two or more people, processes, devices, or events to occur simultaneously or in precise correspondence.
- To happen at the same time, especially through coordination or automatic adjustment.
"The production team synchronized the clocks before recording began."
"The dancers synchronized their steps as the music began."
"The phone automatically synchronizes its calendar with the cloud."
From Greek roots meaning “together” and “time,” this word captures the human talent for making everything happen at once.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does synchronising come from?
The word derives from Greek synchronos, meaning “together” and “at the same time,” formed from syn- (“together”) and chronos (“time”). It entered English through the related forms synchronise and synchronization. The underlying Greek roots are also reflected in cognates such as synchronous, meaning occurring at the same time, and synchrony, meaning agreement in timing or coordination.
Related word forms
How synchronising is actually used
Also spelled “synchronizing” in American English. The word is common in technical, scientific, and formal contexts but is also widely used in everyday speech.