negotiate
Americanverb (used without object)
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negotiates,
present (3rd person singular)
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negotiated,
past participle, past
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negotiating
present participle
verb (used with object)
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negotiates,
present (3rd person singular)
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negotiated,
past participle, past
-
negotiating
present participle
-
to arrange for or bring about by discussion and settlement of terms.
to negotiate a loan.
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to manage; transact; conduct.
He negotiated an important business deal.
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to move through, around, or over in a satisfactory manner.
to negotiate a difficult dance step without tripping: to negotiate sharp curves.
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to transfer (a draft, promissory note, etc.) to a new owner by endorsement and delivery or by delivery.
verb
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to work or talk (with others) to achieve (a transaction, an agreement, etc)
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(tr) to succeed in passing through, around, or over
to negotiate a mountain pass
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(tr) finance
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to transfer (a negotiable commercial paper) by endorsement to another in return for value received
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to sell (financial assets)
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to arrange for (a loan)
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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negotiatesimple
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negotiatessimple
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have negotiatedperfect
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has negotiatedperfect
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am negotiatingprogressive
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are negotiatingprogressive
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is negotiatingprogressive
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have been negotiatingperfect progressive
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has been negotiatingperfect progressive
Past
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negotiatedsimple
-
had negotiatedperfect
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was negotiatingprogressive
-
were negotiatingprogressive
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had been negotiatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of negotiate
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin negōtiātus “traded,” past participle of negōtiārī “to do business, trade,” verb derivative of negōtium “business,” from nec, neg- “not” ( cf. neglect ( def. )) + ōtium “leisure”
Explanation
To negotiate is to try to work out an agreement between parties that each want something out of the deal. You might negotiate with your mom — offering to do more chores for a raise in your allowance. Good luck. Negotiation is all about give and take. Governments are always negotiating with unions, trying to define the terms of new contracts. The government might offer the teachers union a raise, if they agree to work 200 days a year instead of 180. The verb negotiate can also mean to successfully pass through or travel along. You may have to negotiate a hazardous road, or a tricky path through sticker bushes.
Vocabulary lists containing negotiate
Chains
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Vocabulary from the First Presidential Debate: September 26, 2016
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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:
Musk’s comments could be a way for him to negotiate down with Intel, said Luke Rahbari, CEO of Equity Armor Investments.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
Because youth movements are unpredictable and shapeless, often with no clear structure to negotiate with.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
The initial phase of contract talks still would have union and county representatives seeking to hammer out a mutually beneficial deal, with a presumption that both sides would negotiate in good faith.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
When Foran took the Kroger job, he was alarmed to learn that its buyers don’t collectively negotiate their purchases from large suppliers such as Procter & Gamble or PepsiCo, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
“Very well. I will contact Jeanine Matthews, and see if we can negotiate a peace. Any objections?”
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
The report lands as OpenAI negotiates a fresh private fundraising that could value it at roughly $1.4 trillion, according to the FT.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
As he negotiates for a new contract, if the 21-year-old England forward wants to stay at Northampton, it looks like they don't have the cap space for a £1m deal.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
She tours major international defence shows, negotiates with arms manufacturers and takes part in discussions on Europe's rearmament.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The actors union’s new agreement with the trade group that negotiates with Hollywood unions on behalf of the major studios will reportedly improve AI protections and boost the guild’s pension fund.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2026
He is behaving much as he does with his parents — he reasons, negotiates, and jokes with equal ease.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
The two negotiated with each other on Disney’s short-lived partnership with the artificial-intelligence company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Any deals that include exit strategies for players if the club fall out of the Premier League would have to be negotiated as new contracts.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
In their filing, the companies said the agreement was negotiated “at arm’s length” after “two months of hard-fought litigation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
A special committee of the company’s board negotiated a more-than-30% price increase before unanimously recommending the deal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
“The Conte negotiated with him. He'll be suspicious if he's not with us.”
From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke
EU and Chinese officials have been negotiating since June, and Sefcovic raised hopes earlier this year when he said that he wanted "tangible results by October".
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
In fact, Rosenhaus said he plans to begin negotiating a deal for his client on Monday with multiple teams, with the Chiefs in that mix, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
Social media, however, is flooded with memes of exhausted parents calmly negotiating with a child having a supermarket meltdown, something Ockwell-Smith finds deeply frustrating.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
They’re taking their time and negotiating lower prices, real-estate agents say.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
A negotiating committee met with him and Mr. Best to discuss camp grievances.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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.
