collaborate
verb
col·lab·o·rate
kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt 
collaborated; collaborating
1
: to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor
An international team of scientists collaborated on the study.
2
: to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force
suspected of collaborating with the enemy
3
: to cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected
The two schools collaborate on library services.
Did you know?
The Latin prefix com-, meaning "with, together, or jointly," is a bit of a chameleon—it has a tricky habit of changing its appearance depending on what it's next to. If the word it precedes begins with l, com- becomes col- (as in colleague, collect, and collide). In the case of collaborate, com- teamed up with laborare ("to labor") to form Late Latin collaborare ("to labor together").
Synonyms
Examples of collaborate in a Sentence
The two companies agreed to collaborate.
He was suspected of collaborating with the occupying army.
Recent Examples on the Web
Entry-level professionals often find that their ability to convey ideas, collaborate effectively and adapt their communication styles to different audiences can make or break their early career experiences.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Trump, Sheinbaum suggested, was apparently under the impression that the country was still being run by ex-President Felipe Calderón and his former security chief, Genaro Garcia Luna, the latter now serving a 38-year U.S. prison term for collaborating with the Sinaloa cartel.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
This situation highlights the necessity for Greenland, Denmark, and our allies to collaborate in securing the Arctic region.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Both have relocated to Vermont, will report to John Lacy, chief executive officer of Burton and collaborate with the company’s owner, Donna Carpenter, widow of the founder Jake Burton Carpenter.
—Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for collaborate 
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Expert Panel®, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Trump, Sheinbaum suggested, was apparently under the impression that the country was still being run by ex-President Felipe Calderón and his former security chief, Genaro Garcia Luna, the latter now serving a 38-year U.S. prison term for collaborating with the Sinaloa cartel.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
This situation highlights the necessity for Greenland, Denmark, and our allies to collaborate in securing the Arctic region.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Both have relocated to Vermont, will report to John Lacy, chief executive officer of Burton and collaborate with the company’s owner, Donna Carpenter, widow of the founder Jake Burton Carpenter.
—Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for collaborate
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Dictionary Entries Near collaborate
Cite this Entry
“Collaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collaborate. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
collaborate
verb
col·lab·o·rate
kə-ˈlab-ə-ˌrāt
collaborated; collaborating
1
: to work with others (as in writing a book)
2
: to cooperate with an enemy force that has taken over one's country
collaborationist
noun
-sh(ə-)nəst
Legal Definition
collaborate
intransitive verb
col·lab·o·rate
kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt
collaborated; collaborating
: to work jointly with others in some endeavor
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