navigate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
navigates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
navigated,
past participle, past
-
navigating
present participle
-
to move on, over, or through (water, air, or land) in a ship or aircraft.
to navigate a river.
-
to direct or manage (a ship, aircraft, or guided missile) on its course.
-
to ascertain or plot and control the course or position of (a ship, aircraft, etc.).
-
to pass over (the sea or other body of water), as a ship does.
-
to walk or find one's way on, in, or across.
It was difficult to navigate the stairs in the dark.
-
to move or progress through in a logical sequence.
Headings and subheadings make it easier to navigate a long article.
-
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)
-
navigates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
navigated,
past participle, past
-
navigating
present participle
-
to direct or manage a ship, aircraft, or guided missile on its course.
-
to pass over the water, as a ship does.
-
to walk or find one's way.
-
to travel by ship or boat; sail.
-
to move or progress through something in a logical sequence.
We’re navigating through a maze of environmental legislation.
-
Computers. to move from one part to another of a website, document, etc.
verb
-
to plan, direct, or plot the path or position of (a ship, an aircraft, etc)
-
(tr) to travel over, through, or on (water, air, or land) in a boat, aircraft, etc
-
informal to direct (oneself, one's way, etc) carefully or safely
he navigated his way to the bar
-
(intr) (of a passenger in a motor vehicle) to give directions to the driver; point out the route
-
rare (intr) to voyage in a ship; sail
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
navigatesimple
-
navigatessimple
-
have navigatedperfect
-
has navigatedperfect
-
am navigatingprogressive
-
are navigatingprogressive
-
is navigatingprogressive
-
have been navigatingperfect progressive
-
has been navigatingperfect progressive
Past
-
navigatedsimple
-
had navigatedperfect
-
was navigatingprogressive
-
were navigatingprogressive
-
had been navigatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of navigate
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”; cf. fumigate
Explanation
To navigate is to determine a path or course. If you volunteer to navigate on your family’s road trip to Alaska, be sure you’re the type who’s willing to stop and ask for directions. Navigate, like “navy” and “naval,” comes from the Latin word navis meaning “ship.” Without the luxury of modern technology, ancient sailors had to be excellent navigators; they often relied on the stars to chart their course. (We don’t recommend that you try this method of navigation with your family in the car.)
Vocabulary lists containing navigate
100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Sisters" by Raina Telgemeier
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Math Instinct," Vocabulary from the math essay
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
That Cox was able to navigate the hosts to safety has massively boosted his chances of remaining when Jacob Bethell returns from injury, possibly at the expense of Gay.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
To navigate the crowded field of contenders, focus on what you really need and how much you’re willing to pay.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
It’s hard even for a healthcare insider to navigate the system, let alone appeal a denial with amorphous reasoning behind it.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Maybe someone smarter or more charismatic than Erika Kirk would have been able to navigate these contradictions.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
Right now, our lives depend on my ability to navigate and Jacqui's ability to drive.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Kazan doesn’t sacrifice much of the character’s darkness, but rather enables Pugh, an actress who ably navigates purity and corruption, to play with both closer to the surface than usual.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
Haakon's reign begins in the backdrop of these scandals, and how he navigates them might come to define his monarchy.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Hilton signed off on the custody arrangement in which Lavandeira will handle parental responsibilities, including enrolling the children in school, overseeing their medical care and anything else that may arise while Hilton navigates recovery.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
The iPhone maker’s stock has been on a steady upward trend in 2026, even as Apple navigates a memory crunch that has forced the company to raise prices on some of its products.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
I hang on as the plane navigates around the S curves, and my hands grow stinging paper cuts.
From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King
India has navigated the energy crisis sparked by the Iran war in part by turning to Russia, its most controversial fuel supplier in recent years.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
The company navigated supply-chain, political and economic disruptions.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
Even if these challenges are navigated, most of the reservoirs are not set for completion for at least a decade and once all are built they will only make up 7% of that 2055 shortfall.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Mangione said he had for years endured severe pain from a broken back and navigated the obstacles of the health insurance system.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Dorothy was proud of the way she had navigated through the days of racial segregation, proud of whatever small share she might claim in contributing to the demise of that backward practice.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Yet reaching this point has required navigating a volatile road fraught with controversy.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
If you’re trying to understand what’s happening online: Raising a kid today requires spending a lot of time navigating digital platforms.
From Slate ● Sep. 10, 2026
It led to divorce and birthed the series, which aimed to give a glimpse of Utah’s Mormon mom influencers navigating the hyper-conservative religious expectations they live by or grew up in.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
A prolonged oil shock could keep consumer prices elevated and complicate the path for central banks already navigating a difficult policy environment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
At that very moment, for example, Will was inside the walls of the Ashers’ apartment building, navigating with the help of an outmoded dumbwaiter that probably no one but him knew existed anymore.
From "A Tangle of Knots" by Lisa Graff
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.
