Definition of navigate
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
1a : to sail over, on, or through able to navigate the deep ocean watersb : to make one's way over or through : traverse … navigate the Internet via hypertext links connecting information-rich computers around the world. — Stephanie Losee
2a : to steer or manage (a boat) in sailingb : to operate or control the course of navigate an airplane
From the M-W Editors
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.
Origin and Etymology of navigate
Latin navigatus, past participle of navigare, from navis ship + -igare (from agere to drive) — more at agent
First Known Use: 1588
NAVIGATE Defined for English Language Learners
navigate
playDefinition of navigate for English Language Learners
-
: to find the way to get to a place when you are traveling in a ship, airplane, car, etc.
-
: to sail on, over, or through an area of water
-
: to travel on, over, or through (an area or place)
NAVIGATE Defined for Kids
navigate
playDefinition of navigate for Students
navigated
;navigating
1 : to travel by water Explorers navigated around the world.
2 : to sail or travel over, on, or through The crew navigated the river.
3 : to steer a course in a ship or aircraft
4 : to steer or direct the course of (as a boat)
5 : to find information on the Internet or a Web site
Learn More about navigate
-
See words that rhyme with navigate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for navigate Spanish Central: Translation of navigate Nglish: Translation of navigate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of navigate for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up navigate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!