navigate

[ nav-i-geyt ]

/ ˈnæv ɪˌgeɪt /

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See synonyms for: navigate / navigated / navigating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), nav·i·gat·ed, nav·i·gat·ing.

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), nav·i·gat·ed, nav·i·gat·ing.

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.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of navigate

1580–90; <Latin nāvigātus, past participle of nāvigāre to sail, derivative of nāvis ship; for formation, see fumigate

OTHER WORDS FROM navigate

mis·nav·i·gate, verb, mis·nav·i·gat·ed, mis·nav·i·gat·ing.re·nav·i·gate, verb (used with object), re·nav·i·gat·ed, re·nav·i·gat·ing.un·nav·i·gat·ed, adjectivewell-nav·i·gat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use navigate in a sentence

Wisconsin, the only other Big Ten program that has canceled games because of the coronavirus, missed two matchups while navigating a similar-sized outbreak.
Maryland football is ‘committed to getting back,’ but timeline for return is unclear|Emily Giambalvo|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
I’ve had a lot on my mind and needed to give myself some time to navigate my thoughts.
Junior Staffer Says Top Alaska Official Told Her to Keep Allegations of Misconduct Secret|by Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News|November 18, 2020|ProPublica
The latest Big Sur macOS update made it a lot simpler to navigate when you have a ton of Safari tabs open, which is good because the MBA has plenty of power to handle the load.
Apple’s M1 chip makes the new MacBook Air shockingly good|Stan Horaczek|November 18, 2020|Popular-Science
In addition to having more options to design a more attractive page layout on a desktop, it’s easier to navigate a site and view images on a bigger screen.
Harness the power of integrated CRO and social media|Ricky Wang|November 17, 2020|Search Engine Watch

During the pandemic, Americans have been spending more time at home and more money on the digital products that make navigating our new normal easier.
Are subscription services the future of fintech?|Walter Thompson|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch
Saa is now navigating a new life in America as an incognito boarding school student.
Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira Vs. Boko Haram|Kristi York Wooten|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hello Ladies is, of course, about your British character navigating the L.A. dating scene.
Stephen Merchant Talks ‘Hello Ladies’ movie, the Nicole Kidman Cameo, and Legacy of ‘The Office’|Marlow Stern|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Did he give you any advice during the shoot about navigating the next step of your career?
'The Giver' Star Brenton Thwaites Knows You Think He's Too Old to Play Jonas|Kevin Fallon|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Earlier this year, army Apaches shot up several convoys that refused to stop while navigating mountainous dunes near the border.
On the Contraband Trail With Libya’s Gun Smugglers|Peter Schwartzstein|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Daily Beast arrived two hours after the shooting, navigating the unlit roads through mining country.
Inside Putin's Rigged Ukraine Election|Jamie Dettmer|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The able-bodied seaman goes to sea all his life, but he never gets any nearer navigating the ship—and he a white man.
With Edged Tools|Henry Seton Merriman
Captain Sverdrup, who accompanied him across Greenland, goes as navigating officer of the “Fram.”
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2, July, 1893|Various
The first navigating pithecanthrope built nearly as well with his log and bush.
Where the Pavement Ends|John Russell
A boat, even of the lightest draught, navigating behind the islands must choose its moment for passing these.
The Riddle of the Sands|Erskine Childers
He posed as a consummate seaman, used to navigating the seas and grown gray in the study of hydraulic problems.
The Fourth Estate, vol. 2|Armando Palacio Valds

British Dictionary definitions for navigate

navigate

/ (ˈnævɪˌɡeɪt) /

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 safelyhe navigated his way to the bar

(intr) (of a passenger in a motor vehicle) to give directions to the driver; point out the route

(intr) rare to voyage in a ship; sail

Word Origin for navigate

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

navigate

Origin of navigate

OTHER WORDS FROM navigate

Words related to navigate

How to use navigate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for navigate

Word Origin for navigate