Word
locate
Phoneticslo·cate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫoʊˌkeɪt/
UK/ləʊkˈeɪt/
Definitions
01to find something
B1 · Intermediate General-service
v. to find the exact position of something or someone.
v. 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.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02to place something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal · Academic
v. to put or build something in a particular area.
v. 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'.
03to move to a place
C1 · Advanced Informal · American English
v. to move to a new place to live or do business.
v. 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.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “locate” in context.
Verb
01. centrally locate
“The hotel is centrally located, making it easy to visit all the main tourist attractions.”
adv + verb
02. locate in
“The company decided to locate its new headquarters in the city center.”
verb + prep
03. located at the bottom
04. located in isolated
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin locātus, perfect passive participle of locō (“to place”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from locus (“place”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French louer; see also local and lieu.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/locate