collaborate

verb

col·​lab·​o·​rate kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt 

collaborated; collaborating

intransitive verb

1

: to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor

An international team of scientists collaborated on the study.

2

: to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force

suspected of collaborating with the enemy

3

: to cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected

The two schools collaborate on library services.

collaboration

kə-ˌla-bə-ˈrā-shən 

noun

collaborative

kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrā-tiv

-b(ə-)rə- 

adjective or noun

collaboratively

kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrā-tiv-lē 

-b(ə-)rə-

adverb

Did you know?

The Latin prefix com-, meaning "with, together, or jointly," is a bit of a chameleon—it has a habit of changing its appearance depending on what it's next to. For example, if the word it precedes begins with l, com- becomes col-. In the case of collaborate, com- teamed up with the verb laborare ("to labor") to form the Late Latin word collaborare ("to labor together"). Be careful not to confuse collaborate with corroborate, another com- relative. This word was formed when com- (this time shape-shifting to cor-) joined forces with the Latin word robur ("strength"). Together, by way of the Latin verb corroborare, they created the meaning "to support or help prove (a statement, theory, etc.) by providing information or evidence," which carried over into the English word corroborate.

Synonyms

• cooperate
• unite

Examples of collaborate in a Sentence

The two companies agreed to collaborate.

He was suspected of collaborating with the occupying army.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cross-Silo Collaboration Barriers AI developers attempting to collaborate across silos (such as government agencies) where data sharing is challenging or explicitly forbidden are able to exchange synthetic datasets. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Robin has also collaborated with Francesco Caracciolo di Marano on Robicara, a collection of custom furniture and accessories. —Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 7 July 2025

Outside of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, Cameron collaborated with Zach Hill and Janet Weiss on a 2013 album called Drumgasm. —Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 7 July 2025

This victory would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of advocates, families and legislators, as well as a willingness to collaborate with the insurance industry. —Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin collaboratus, past participle of collaborare to labor together, from Latin com- + laborare to labor — more at labor

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for collaborate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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Kids Definition

collaborate

verb

col·​lab·​o·​rate kə-ˈlab-ə-ˌrāt 

collaborated; collaborating

1

: to work with others (as in writing a book)

2

: to cooperate with an enemy force that has taken over one's country

collaboration

kə-ˌlab-ə-ˈrā-shən 

noun

collaborationist

-sh(ə-)nəst

noun

collaborator

kə-ˈlab-ə-ˌrāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

collaborate

intransitive verb

col·​lab·​o·​rate kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt 

collaborated; collaborating

: to work jointly with others in some endeavor