negotiate
Americanverb (used without object)
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negotiates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
negotiated,
past participle, past
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negotiating
present participle
verb (used with object)
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negotiates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
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
-
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
-
has been negotiatingperfect progressive
Past
-
negotiatedsimple
-
had negotiatedperfect
-
was negotiatingprogressive
-
were negotiatingprogressive
-
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:
Microsoft could direct more of its next round of spending toward its own chips, or use that option to negotiate better terms on GPUs.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Shulman, the surrogacy attorney, said surrogate mothers and the parents they intend to deliver a baby for normally are required to have independent legal advocates who negotiate a contract between the parties.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Mamdani said on Thursday that he had spoken to US President Donald Trump and Mullin for two hours but failed to negotiate Belgal's release.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
“I wanted to share practical ways to reduce or negotiate medical bills for other moms.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
“I think I can get in touch with Marcus over the radio to negotiate a peace agreement,” Evelyn says.
From "Allegiant" 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
The CDC contracts with manufacturers of the U.S.-licensed vaccines each year and negotiates discounted prices for federal programs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
If that is the case, Iran may be attempting to establish a new regional reality: one in which it negotiates from a position of strength while actively enforcing its own red lines.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
But one possibility would be matters concerning the television rights the league negotiates with media companies.
From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026
He is behaving much as he does with his parents — he reasons, negotiates, and jokes with equal ease.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
About 75% of Micron’s fiscal 2027 memory-chip output is already contracted, and new long-term deals are being negotiated at higher prices, according to Mizuho analyst Brett Linzey.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
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
He negotiated with England skipper Nasser Hussain for both teams to forfeit an innings, leaving the tourists with a final-day run-chase, which they completed.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 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
“Then you should have negotiated back in that cell. I’m not a bank, Brekker. And even if I were, given your current situation, I’d say you’re a pretty poor credit risk.”
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
A chip that performs well on selected tasks is useful, but its negotiating value depends on how much spending Microsoft can realistically redirect.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
"Our reforms support the ambition for high-quality 5G coverage across all populated areas by 2030 and ensures landowners are treated fairly when negotiating with mobile operators."
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
The two sides have been negotiating a new post-Brexit food and drink deal, a youth mobility scheme and an agreement on emissions tradings.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
His intense negotiating style masks his soft side as a father to a one-year old son, people who work with Brown say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
More than five thousand Tule Lake inmates gathered outside the administrative area to peacefully support the negotiating committee.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
