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

Modern smartphones are capable aurora cameras when conditions cooperate. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Most local agencies routinely cooperated with federal immigration enforcement until the state’s Senate Bill 54 took effect in 2018. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

DeSantis and the Florida Legislature synched Florida Highway Patrol operations with immigration enforcement and ordered local police departments and sheriff’s offices to cooperate. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026

The two parties are cooperating on companion measures in the House and Senate. —Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 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