cooperate

verb

co·​op·​er·​ate kō-ˈä-pə-ˌrāt 

cooperated; cooperating; cooperates

intransitive verb

1

: to act or work with another or others : act together or in compliance

refused to cooperate with the police

2

: to associate with another or others for mutual benefit

nations cooperating to fight terrorism

cooperator

kō-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• band (together)
• collaborate
• concert
• concur
• conjoin
• conspire
• join
• league
• team (up)
• unite

Examples of cooperate in a Sentence

It will be much easier if everyone cooperates.

Several organizations cooperated in the relief efforts.

The country agreed to cooperate with the other nations on the trade agreement.

The mother asked the child to put on his pajamas, but the child refused to cooperate.

Witnesses were willing to cooperate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sidney Powell and Ken Chesebro both plead guilty and agree to cooperate. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

Police have said multiple times the family is cooperating with investigators. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Dec. 2024

Amid growing pressure, TP-Link’s U.S. subsidiary has expressed its willingness to cooperate with federal authorities. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

The lawmakers highlighted barriers these families face, including some jurisdictions requiring victims of police misconduct to cooperate with and request aid from the same department responsible for the harm. —Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin cooperatus, past participle of cooperari, from Latin co- + operari to work — more at operate

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cooperate

verb

co·​op·​er·​ate kō-ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt 

cooperated; cooperating

: to act, work, or associate with others so as to get something done