IPA: /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/
KK: /ˈɑːptɪmaɪz/
To make something as good or effective as it can be, often by improving its performance or efficiency.
The team worked hard to optimize the software for better performance.
Past: optimized
Past Participle: optimized
Optimize → It is formed from "optimum" (from Latin *optimum*, meaning best) and "-ize" (a suffix used to form verbs indicating to make or to become). The word "optimize" means to make something as effective or functional as possible, or to make it the best it can be.
Think of making something the "best" ('optimum') it can be — that's what it means to optimize.
No commonly confused words.