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

• 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

Soto fled but was called back to the restaurant when deputies arrived, Judd explained, adding that Soto cooperated and has been charged with felony tampering with evidence. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025

The driver, a person in their 90s, stopped at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, according to police. —Jason Green, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025

Ordinarily, safety meetings with UEFA will take place before any fixture, cooperating with safety measures and the clubs involved. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

People will be happy to cooperate with you, which will be reassuring for you. —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025

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