liaise
Americanverb (used without object)
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liaises,
present (3rd person singular)
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liaised,
past participle, past
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liaising
present participle
verb
Usage
What does liaise mean? To liaise means “to form a liaison,” that is, “to communicate and maintain contact with another person or organization.” In other words, liaising is like acting as the contact person between two groups, such as between parents and teachers. Contrary to popular complaints, liaise is a perfectly real and fine word. It’s been around since at least the 1920s. Example: Jen is highly regarded for her ability to liaise with her company’s clients.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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liaisesimple
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liaisessimple
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have liaisedperfect
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has liaisedperfect
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am liaisingprogressive
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are liaisingprogressive
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is liaisingprogressive
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have been liaisingperfect progressive
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has been liaisingperfect progressive
Past
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liaisedsimple
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had liaisedperfect
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was liaisingprogressive
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were liaisingprogressive
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had been liaisingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of liaise
First recorded in 1925–30; back formation from liaison
Explanation
When you liaise with someone, you meet up or connect with them, usually so you can work together on something cooperatively. Two rival soccer teams might liaise to discuss the muddy conditions of the town's soccer fields. The verb liaise comes from the noun liaison, which was adapted from its original French meaning ("a binding together") during World War I to mean "military cooperation or alliance" between different countries. The Latin root of both words is ligatio, "a binding." When two groups liaise, they bind together or connect in order to gain a result that they both want. The very trickiest thing about the word liaise is remembering that it's spelled not with one i but with two.
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.
See Examples For:
A TfL spokesperson said: "We're continuing to liaise with LFB to make sure we understand what we can operate safely for both our customers and staff."
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Under Mexican law, foreign agents may exchange information and liaise with their local counterparts with the supervision of the central government but can’t carry out functions reserved to Mexican law-enforcement authorities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
In a decision log, shown to the inquiry, Sanders recorded the need to liaise with the head of corporate communications, Matthew Jarram, to "ascertain what covenants can be imposed on the press".
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
They help staff individuals’ estates around the world and liaise with advisers to pick out, and finance, toys such as planes and yachts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
The Office of Misinformation will in such a case liaise directly with the Muggle prime minister to seek a plausible non-magical explanation for the event.
From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling
Rodriguez appointed Captain Juan Escalona as minister of the presidential office, which manages the leader's agenda and liaises with state agencies.
From Barron's ● Jan. 12, 2026
“There’s always players coming from Japan and so he always liaises on stuff like that ... and we count on him for a lot of things,” Roberts said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2024
It investigates alleged crimes against MPs in their capacity as elected representatives and liaises with Parliamentary Security Department.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2024
The IOC panel that liaises with potential Summer Games bidders, which Grabar-Kitarović chairs, “must take any infringement of the Olympic Charter into consideration at all stages of the dialogue,” she said.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 15, 2023
More than 160 major companies from several countries are members of the International Cable Protection Committee, which helps monitor legislation regarding cable preservation and liaises with relevant United Nations committees.
From Slate ● Dec. 28, 2020
It bought stock in advance of buying a 4.5% shareholding from the state, and liaised with Commerzbank’s then-CEO, Manfred Knof, about its interest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
That officer then liaised with medical staff at the hospital and the photograph was compared with the victim.
From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2026
Some of these militant techniques have been used by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, whose Quds, or Jerusalem, force serves as an expeditionary unit that long has liaised with proxy militia groups across the Middle East.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 10, 2023
I liaised with the costume department on aspects of the wardrobe based on what my parents, aunts and uncles wore.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2023
Uchida, a career central banker who masterminded many of the BOJ's unconventional policies, liaised with the government and kept in close contact with Japan's top currency diplomat Masato Kanda.
From Reuters ● Aug. 3, 2023
National Highways said because the warehouse was close to the railway line, Network Rail had a representative on site liaising with the fire service.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Petno’s work on the national-security initiative includes giving updates to the bank’s board of directors and liaising with government officials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Her death is not being treated as suspicious, and police will be liaising with the coroner.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
“The controller needs to play a role in mediating or liaising between the two to ensure that there is not duplication of efforts,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
Anyone who implies that Lord Darlington was liaising covertly with a known enemy is just conveniently forgetting the true climate of those times.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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.
