cooperate

American  

[koh-op-uh-reyt] / koʊˈɒp əˌreɪt /

Or co-operate

verb (used without object)

cooperated, cooperating

1. to work or act together or jointly for a common purpose or benefit.

2. to work or act with another or other persons willingly and agreeably.

   Synonyms:

   participate, join, collaborate

3. to practice economic cooperation.

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cooperate British  

/ kəʊˈɒpəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to work or act together

2. to be of assistance or be willing to assist

3. economics (of firms, workers, consumers, etc) to engage in economic cooperation

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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”; see co-, operate

Explanation

When you cooperate, you work together. You can cooperate with the police by telling them everything you know about your neighbor’s pet leopard, or your preschooler can cooperate with you by doing everything you tell him to do, now! The verb cooperate is originally from the combination of The Latin prefix co-, meaning “together,” and operari, meaning “to work.” The term “co-op” is a shortening of cooperative and is used when people work together (or cooperate) to run a preschool, health food store, or a residence. When you start or join a co-op, be prepared to cooperate with your partners, and remember: somebody has to clean the bathrooms.

Example Sentences

If housing inflation doesn’t cooperate, it leaves officials without much hope that inflationary pressures can be tamed in the near-term.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

During his stint as high representative, Paddy Ashdown memorably wielded these so-called "Bonn Powers" sacking 60 Bosnian-Serb officials in one day in 2004 for refusing to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Although there aren’t any other cooperative breeders among the great apes, there are South American treetop monkeys called marmosets and tamarins who do cooperate to raise young.

From Slate • May 10, 2026

“She looks forward to continuing to cooperate with the Court to make progress in the custody case.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

But we had to do it alone, for none of the other girls would cooperate with our hostility.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

Related Words

• aid
• assist
• collaborate
• comply with
• conspire
• contribute
• coordinate
• further
• help
• participate
• unite
• uphold