cooperate

verb

co·​op·​er·​ate kō-ˈä-pə-ˌrāt 

cooperated; cooperating; cooperates

intransitive verb

1

: to act or work with another or others : act together or in compliance

refused to cooperate with the police

2

: to associate with another or others for mutual benefit

nations cooperating to fight terrorism

cooperator

kō-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• band (together)
• collaborate
• concert
• concur
• conjoin
• conspire
• join
• league
• team (up)
• unite

Examples of cooperate in a Sentence

It will be much easier if everyone cooperates.

Several organizations cooperated in the relief efforts.

The country agreed to cooperate with the other nations on the trade agreement.

The mother asked the child to put on his pajamas, but the child refused to cooperate.

Witnesses were willing to cooperate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Local police are barred from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on civil deportations or detainers, and undocumented migrants can’t be arrested based on their status. —Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 4 Nov. 2024

The first was a plea deal from a former officer who was not at the raid and became a cooperating witness in another case. —Dylan Lovan, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2024

According to Greenfield police, all drivers remained on the scene and are cooperating with the investigation. —Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024

The company is facing lawsuits yet has sought to communicate and cooperate with regulators. —Louis Biscotti, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin cooperatus, past participle of cooperari, from Latin co- + operari to work — more at operate

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cooperate

verb

co·​op·​er·​ate kō-ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt 

cooperated; cooperating

: to act, work, or associate with others so as to get something done