negotiate

verb

Sayni-GOH-shee-ayt/nəˈɡoʊ.ʃi.eɪt/UK/nəˈɡəʊ.ʃi.eɪt//nɪˈɡəʉ.ʃi.æɪt/

Formsnegotiates, negotiating, negotiated

6 meanings of negotiate

1
verbintransitive
To talk with other people so everyone can agree on something.
Like two kids working out who gets to play with a toy first.
The two sides agreed to negotiate before the strike began.
Union leaders negotiated for weeks but reached no deal.
Similarbargain, haggle, parley
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2
verbtransitive
To work out the details of a deal so that both sides agree.
Like two friends deciding together how to split the last slice of pizza.
They negotiated a new contract after months of talks.
We need to negotiate the price before signing anything.
Similarbroker, arrange, settle, agree, secure
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3
verbtransitive
To get safely past or over something difficult or dangerous.
Like carefully stepping across stones to cross a river without falling.
The driver carefully negotiated the icy mountain road.
Hikers must negotiate several steep ridges to reach the summit.
Similarnavigate, clear, cross, traverse
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4
verbtransitive
To pass a check or note to someone else so they can collect the money.
Like handing someone a gift card that they can now spend themselves.
He negotiated the check at a local bank.
You can negotiate a money order to a third party.
Similartransfer
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Less common meanings

5
verbobsolete
To do business or carry on trade.
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6
verbobsolete
To make secret plans against someone.
Certaine it is, shee was a busie negotiating woman.
1622, Francis, Lord VerulamHere, negotiating means scheming or plotting, always busy with secret plans.
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Practice

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Origin

From Latin negotium meaning "business," which came from nec "not" plus otium "leisure." So it first meant to do business.