Word
navigate
Phoneticsnav·i·gate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnævəˌɡeɪt/
UK/nˈævɪɡˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to direct a vehicle
B1 · Intermediate
v. to plan and direct the route of a ship, aircraft, or car.
v. to plan, control, and record the position and course of a vehicle or vessel. Often used transitively with the vehicle or the route as the object.
“Early sailors used the stars to navigate their ships across the ocean.”
“The pilot had to navigate the aircraft through a narrow mountain pass during the heavy storm, relying entirely on his instruments.”
Usage
Can be used transitively (navigate the ship) or intransitively (he is navigating).
02computing
B1 · Intermediate Computing
v. to move around a website or computer screen to find what you need.
v. to move between web pages, menus, or digital interfaces using hyperlinks or interface controls.
“The website is very easy to navigate because the menu is clear.”
“Users often find it difficult to navigate complex databases without a robust search function or a clear hierarchical structure.”
Usage
Often used with 'through' or 'around'.
03to handle a situation
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to find a way to deal with a difficult or complicated situation.
v. to find a way through a complex or difficult process or social situation. Figurative use.
“She helped her friend navigate the difficult process of applying for a visa.”
“The CEO had to carefully navigate the political tensions between the two merging companies to ensure a smooth transition.”
Usage
Commonly used with abstract nouns like 'process', 'system', or 'relationship'.
Real-World Examples
“Foote added young islanders were "trying to navigate" the challenges of social media and the world they are growing up in.” “Women of previous generations have also navigated that balance – they weren’t all sold on the notion of “burying the body” – but never so many, all at once.” Etymology
First attested in 1588; borrowed from Latin nāvigātus, the perfect passive participle of nāvigō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from nāvis (“ship”) + -igō, from Proto-Indo-European *néh₂us (“boat”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/navigate