locate

verb

located; locating

intransitive verb

: to establish oneself or one's business : settle
The company will locate north of the city.

transitive verb

1
: to determine or indicate the place, site, or limits of
locate the lines of the property.
2
: to set or establish in a particular spot : station
located the clock in the exact center of the mantel
3
: to seek out and determine the location of
Try to locate the source of the sound.
4
: to find or fix the place of especially in a sequence : classify
locating the reigns of the pastoral kings
locatable adjective

Examples of locate in a Sentence

We tried to locate the border of the property. Can you locate your town on the map? The missing boy was located by police in the woods. The mechanic is still trying to locate the source of the problem. Reporters have been unable to locate the mayor for his comments. The company chose to locate its factory near the airport. The company located near the airport. His parents located in Ohio.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That changed in February, when the state located the necessary drugs and planned to execute Thomas Creech, who was convicted of five murders in three states. Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024 The county is a conservative stronghold located about an hour north of Phoenix. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024 According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Mountain Fire, located northwest of Los Angeles, exploded to 10,457 acres (16 square miles) in little more than five hours. Doug Duran, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 What's more, every dog at the event will be available for adoption, and the center said that anyone interested in adopting can follow up at Helen Woodward Animal Center, located nearby in Rancho Santa Fe. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for locate 

Word History

Etymology

Latin locatus, past participle of locare to place, from locus

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of locate was in 1513

Dictionary Entries Near locate

Cite this Entry

“Locate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/locate. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

locate

verb
located; locating
1
: to set oneself or one's business up in a particular place
2
: to state and fix exactly the place, limits, or position of
locate property lines
locate point B
3
a
: to look for and find the position of
trying to locate the problem with the engine
b
: to find or fix the place of in a series
locate an event in history

More from Merriam-Webster on locate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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