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 of cooperate

• collaborate
• 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

Morocco has previously been accused of relaxing border controls during diplomatic disputes, making a sudden mass influx a potential way to demonstrate how difficult the migration problem could become if Morocco stops cooperating. — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

All factions, clans and components of the Palestinian society in Gaza shall cooperate with NCAG in this process. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

Spanish authorities said Morocco is cooperating with efforts to regain control of the border. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026

Police said the driver stopped at the scene and cooperated with investigators, and there is no indication that person was arrested or cited. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

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

Rhymes for cooperate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

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