negotiate

[ ni-goh-shee-eyt ]
See synonyms for: negotiatenegotiatednegotiatingnegotiator on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),ne·go·ti·at·ed, ne·go·ti·at·ing.
  1. to deal or bargain with another or others, as in the preparation of a treaty or contract or in preliminaries to a business deal.

verb (used with object),ne·go·ti·at·ed, ne·go·ti·at·ing.
  1. to arrange for or bring about by discussion and settlement of terms: to negotiate a loan.

  2. to manage; transact; conduct: He negotiated an important business deal.

  1. to move through, around, or over in a satisfactory manner: to negotiate a difficult dance step without tripping: to negotiate sharp curves.

  2. to transfer (a draft, promissory note, etc.) to a new owner by endorsement and delivery or by delivery.

Origin of negotiate

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin negōtiātus “traded,” past participle of negōtiārī “to do business, trade,” verb derivative of negōtium “business,” from nec, neg- “not” (cf. neglect ) + ōtium “leisure”

Other words for negotiate

Other words from negotiate

  • ne·go·ti·a·tor, noun
  • pre·ne·go·ti·ate, verb, pre·ne·go·ti·at·ed, pre·ne·go·ti·at·ing.
  • un·ne·go·ti·at·ed, adjective
  • well-ne·go·ti·at·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use negotiate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for negotiate

negotiate

/ (nɪˈɡəʊʃɪˌeɪt) /


verb
  1. to work or talk (with others) to achieve (a transaction, an agreement, etc)

  2. (tr) to succeed in passing through, around, or over: to negotiate a mountain pass

  1. (tr) finance

    • to transfer (a negotiable commercial paper) by endorsement to another in return for value received

    • to sell (financial assets)

    • to arrange for (a loan)

Origin of negotiate

1
C16: from Latin negōtiārī to do business, from negōtium business, from nec not + ōtium leisure

Derived forms of negotiate

  • negotiator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012