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

The first two movies were shot in Kansas City (also Hallmark’s home base) and Buffalo, with the NFL’s Chiefs and Bills cooperating. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

As Morris was facing trial for Parker’s killing, Ezell Finklea, a 61-year-old military veteran and witness who cooperated with Miami-Dade prosecutors despite threats to his life, was gunned down. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Police say the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

The three countries are also cooperating on an initiative to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, which Bulgaria Prime Minister Radev plans to present to the European Union this week. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 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