navigate

verb

nav·​i·​gate ˈna-və-ˌgāt How to pronounce navigate (audio)
navigated; navigating

intransitive verb

1
: to travel by water : sail
navigated down to the mouth of the river
2
: to steer a course through a medium
specifically : to operate an airplane
navigate by instrument
3
: get around, move
was well enough to navigate under his own power

transitive verb

1
a
: to sail over, on, or through
able to navigate the deep ocean waters
b
: to make one's way over or through : traverse
navigate the Internet via hypertext links connecting information-rich computers around the world.Stephanie Losee
2
a
: to steer or manage (a boat) in sailing
b
: to operate or control the course of
navigate an airplane

Examples of navigate in a Sentence

For thousands of years, sailors navigated by the stars. How about if you drive and I navigate? I'd need a map to navigate the city. Only flat-bottomed boats can safely navigate the canal. He has learned to navigate in rough waters. The downtown area is easily navigated on foot. She has trouble navigating the stairs with her crutches. It took us 10 minutes to navigate through the parking lot to the exit. The captain navigated the ship. He has had experience navigating airplanes through storms.
Recent Examples on the Web But her recent clashes with Trump may hinder her ability to navigate the party's dynamics moving forward. TIME, 7 Mar. 2024 Proficient in navigating the tax code and preparing various types of tax returns. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Speakers shared their experiences navigating the industry as disabled individuals, highlighting the challenges faced and the need for industry-wide efforts to break down barriers and create more inclusive opportunities. Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Investigators are awaiting autopsy results and trying to determine other factors from that night such as weather conditions on the rural, back roads and if Leonard may have been using his phone to navigate, Johnson said. Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 For a bit more adrenaline, the Class IV New River Dries section rushes through soaring, narrow cliffs as rafters navigate tight boulder jams and giant waves. Emily Pennington, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 What has your experience been navigating that public and private life balance? Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2024 Withstanding extreme conditions is nothing new for Michael Arceneaux, who has made a career out of navigating unstable ground. Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'navigate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin navigatus, past participle of navigare, from navis ship + -igare (from agere to drive) — more at agent

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of navigate was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near navigate

Cite this Entry

“Navigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navigate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

navigate

verb
nav·​i·​gate ˈnav-ə-ˌgāt How to pronounce navigate (audio)
navigated; navigating
1
a
: to travel by water
b
: to sail over, on, or through
navigate the Atlantic Ocean
2
a
: to direct one's course in a ship or aircraft
b
: to control the course of : steer
3
: to make one's way about, over, or through
navigate the new website
navigate the school's halls

More from Merriam-Webster on navigate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!