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

Delcy Rodriguez, who succeeded Maduro, has been cooperating with the United States and not sending aid to Cuba. —Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026

The driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with police. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026

The Chinese Communist Party has long cooperated with the Iranian regime, providing the Islamic Republic with crucial technologies for civic and military use in exchange for cheap energy. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2026

Police said the driver of the Ford stopped, cooperated with investigators and is not facing any criminal charges at this time. —Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 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

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

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