navigate

[ nav-i-geyt ]

verb (used with object)

, nav·i·gat·ed, nav·i·gat·ing.

1. to move on, over, or through (water, air, or land) in a ship or aircraft:

   to navigate a river.

2. to direct or manage (a ship, aircraft, or guided missile) on its course.
3. to ascertain or plot and control the course or position of (a ship, aircraft, etc.).
4. to pass over (the sea or other body of water), as a ship does.
5. to walk or find one's way on, in, or across:

   It was difficult to navigate the stairs in the dark.

6. to move or progress through in a logical sequence:

   Headings and subheadings make it easier to navigate a long article.

7. Computers. to move from one part to another of (a website, document, etc.), especially by using the links:

   Their site is uncluttered and easy to navigate.

verb (used without object)

, nav·i·gat·ed, nav·i·gat·ing.

1. to direct or manage a ship, aircraft, or guided missile on its course.
2. to pass over the water, as a ship does.
3. to walk or find one's way.
4. to travel by ship or boat; sail.
5. to move or progress through something in a logical sequence:

   We’re navigating through a maze of environmental legislation.

6. Computers. to move from one part to another of a website, document, etc.

navigate

/ ˈnævɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to plan, direct, or plot the path or position of (a ship, an aircraft, etc)
2. tr to travel over, through, or on (water, air, or land) in a boat, aircraft, etc
3. informal.
   to direct (oneself, one's way, etc) carefully or safely

   he navigated his way to the bar

4. intr (of a passenger in a motor vehicle) to give directions to the driver; point out the route
5. rare.
   intr to voyage in a ship; sail

Other Words From

• mis·navi·gate verb misnavigated misnavigating
• re·navi·gate verb (used with object) renavigated renavigating
• un·navi·gated adjective
• well-navi·gated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of navigate¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin nāvigātus “sailed,” past participle of nāvigāre “to sail,” from nāv(is) “ship” + -igāre, combining form of agere “to drive, do”; fumigate

Word History and Origins

Origin of navigate¹

C16: from Latin nāvigāre to sail, from nāvis ship + agere to drive

Example Sentences

With the school year in full swing, many parents are navigating virtual, in-person, or hybrid learning for their kids amidst the global pandemic — as if work and home life wasn’t stressful enough.

From Essence.com

At its heart, though, Borgen is interested in the ways that Birgitte has to navigate some of these social pressures in a way a man just wouldn’t.

From Vox

Personalized content has become even more important as brands compete for the attention of people spending significantly more time online while navigating stay-at-home orders.

From Search Engine Watch

The insights I’ve gained by seeing the challenges, opportunities, and decision-making they’ve experienced through their eyes have helped me navigate various pivot points and opportunities within my own career.

From Fortune

The departure of Jacques, 48, who joined Rio in 2011, comes amid wider upheaval in the top ranks of the mining industry, as the sector prepares for a longer-term slowdown in demand from China and navigates moves to decarbonize the global economy.

From Fortune

On the show, we had to find a way to navigate that in a sensitive way.

From The Daily Beast

Three times a day, she would navigate the options without any idea what was on the menu that day.

From The Daily Beast

He would navigate from the cockpit using a road atlas—while snorting cocaine off the map.

From The Daily Beast

You navigate from scene to scene in an intimately small group.

From The Daily Beast

And of the fact that we were able to navigate the film that dropped in the middle of the first season.

From The Daily Beast

And when they come to look at that spare room they had to take soundings before they could navigate it.

From Project Gutenberg

Or should he attempt to descend a river even more terrible to navigate than the San Juan?

From Project Gutenberg

Like swimming squirrels, you navigate with the help of Heaven and a stiff breeze, but you never land where you hope to—do you?

From Project Gutenberg

We also started building a catamaran, with which to navigate the river when the floods had subsided.

From Project Gutenberg

There are three of you, all able-bodied seamen, and in case of a tempest you would be able to navigate the Coral.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cross
• cruise
• handle
• maneuver
• operate
• sail
• steer