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Back-formation from orientation.


orientate ‎(third-person singular simple present orientates, present participle orientating, simple past and past participle orientated)

  1. (Britain, intransitive) To face (a given direction).
  2. (Britain, reflexive) To determine one's position relative to the surroundings; to orient (oneself).
    • John le Carré
      He…stood for a moment, orientating himself exactly in the light of his knowledge.
    He came out of the station and took some time to orientate himself.
  3. To arrange in order; to dispose or place (a body) so as to show its relation to other bodies, or the relation of its parts among themselves.
    • E. S. Dana
      A crystal is orientated when placed in its proper position so as to exhibit its symmetry.
  4. (Britain, transitive) To position (something), to align relative to a given position.
    Try to orientate your students towards the science subjects.
  5. (archaic) To move or turn toward the east; to veer from the north or south toward the east.

Usage notes[edit]



  1. ^ orientate, in Common Errors in English Usage, by Paul Brians




  1. second-person plural present indicative of orientare
  2. second-person plural imperative of orientare
  3. feminine plural of orientato