optimize
/ˈɑptɪmaɪz/verb
optimize is spelled O-P-T-I-M-I-Z-E: 8 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 2.1 times per million words in written English, the 18,811th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, optimize means “To act optimistically or as an optimist” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in optimize?
| Letters | 8: O-P-T-I-M-I-Z-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.1 times per million words; the 18,811th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is optimize?
Optimize appears 2.1 times per million words in written English, the 18,811th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce optimize?
- US /ˈɑptɪmaɪz/
- UK /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/
Optimize has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-optimize.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with optimize
Also written: optimise.
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of optimize
- optimizes present, singular, he/she/it
- optimizing participle, present
- optimized participle, past
- optimise
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does optimize mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To act optimistically or as an optimist.
- 2
To make (something) optimal.
We need to optimize the supply chain to reduce costs.
- 3
To make (something) more efficient, such as a computer program.
The website was redesigned to optimize user experience.
- 4
To become optimal.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Optimize in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | agir en optimiste , optimiser , s'optimiser |
| Spanish | optimizar , optimar , eficientar |
| German | optimieren |
| Portuguese | otimizar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.