To strategize means to think carefully and make a plan for how to achieve a goal or solve a problem. When you strategize, you study the situation, consider your options, and map out your approach before taking action.

A chess player strategizes by thinking several moves ahead, imagining how their opponent might respond to each possibility. A soccer team strategizes before a big game, planning which plays to use against their opponent's strengths and weaknesses. Students might strategize about how to tackle a difficult research project by breaking it into smaller tasks and creating a timeline.

Strategizing requires understanding what you're trying to accomplish, what resources you have available, and what obstacles might get in your way. A group of friends strategizing about how to build the best fort would consider the materials they have, the space available, and how to make it sturdy enough to last.

When people strategize together, they can discover better solutions than any one person would have thought of alone. Time spent strategizing before taking action can save time and effort later, because you avoid dead ends and wasted work.