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

Since all your cards are working, cooperate with a four-club cue bid. —Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2024

But instead of welcoming their students’ contributions to the country’s most important political debate, many university administrators cooperated with government and law enforcement agencies in subjecting protesters to surveillance and repression. —Richard Beck, TIME, 6 Sep. 2024

Solis, who represented Chicago’s 25th ward from 1996 to 2019, began cooperating with federal prosecutors in 2014, according to a 106-page indictment. —Brett Rowland | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Sep. 2024

But Clearview does not cooperate in requests for access. —Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 3 Sep. 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