# locate

/ˈɫoʊˌkeɪt/ (US) · /ləʊkˈeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/locate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to find something

verb · CEFR B1 · General-service

to find the exact position of something or someone.

For teachers: to discover or determine the precise location or position of an entity.

- The rescue team used a drone to locate the missing hikers in the forest.
- Archaeologists used ground-penetrating radar to locate the foundations of the ancient villa without disturbing the topsoil.

Usage: Often used in passive constructions or with 'can' to indicate the ability to find something.

### 2. to place something

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal · Academic

to put or build something in a particular area.

For teachers: to establish or settle something in a particular place; often used in business contexts regarding facilities.

- The company decided to locate its new office near the train station.
- The government intends to locate the new research facility in a region with high unemployment to stimulate the local economy.

Usage: Frequently appears in the passive voice as 'be located in/at'.

### 3. to move to a place

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

to move to a new place to live or do business.

For teachers: to take up residence or establish a place of business in a new area.

- After the war, the family decided to locate in a small town out west.
- Many tech startups choose to locate in the downtown district to remain close to venture capital firms and talent pools.

Teaching tip: In modern British English, 'relocate' is much more common for this sense; 'locate' as an intransitive verb for moving is largely North American.

## Examples

- I need to locate the nearest post office.
- Rescue teams used satellite technology to locate the missing hikers deep within the forest.
- The researchers were finally able to locate the source of the interference after systematically testing every piece of equipment in the laboratory.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.