cooperate
Americanverb (used without object)
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to work or act together or jointly for a common purpose or benefit.
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to work or act with another or other persons willingly and agreeably.
- Synonyms:
- participate, join, collaborate
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to practice economic cooperation.
verb
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to work or act together
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to be of assistance or be willing to assist
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economics (of firms, workers, consumers, etc) to engage in economic cooperation
Other Word Forms
- co-operator noun
- cooperator noun
- uncooperating adjective
Etymology
Origin of cooperate
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin cooperātus, past participle of cooperārī “to work with”; co-, operate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Al-Nourji, who seemed eager to cooperate, led the family to the street corner where he met Ashaal.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
The countries that are party to the CMS are legally obliged to protect species listed as at risk of extinction, conserve and restore their habitats, prevent obstacles to migration and cooperate with other range states.
From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026
The one who wondered whether her body would ever cooperate with her longing.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
But the agency did not say whether it would cooperate with the local authorities or follow a court ruling requiring it to do so.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
No wonder, then, that Roosevelt feared that South America might fall to Hitler, or at least cooperate with him.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
