cohabitate

intransitive verb

co·​hab·​i·​tate (ˌ)kō-ˈha-bə-ˌtāt How to pronounce cohabitate (audio)
cohabitated; cohabitating; cohabitates
: to live or exist together or in company : cohabit
Pairs who cohabitate without marrying report even higher levels of happiness and self-esteem than do those who wed before shacking up …Self, June 2012
The farm animals cohabitated with grizzly bears, massive elk herds and, more problematically, wolves.Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2013
As digital and print continue to cohabitate, specific roles in editorial, marketing, and publicity are becoming less defined and more cross-functional …Clare Swanson, Publisher's Weekly, 27 Sept. 2013

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cohabitate was in 1624

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near cohabitate

Cite this Entry

“Cohabitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohabitate. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!