ENGLISH
REFERENCE

navigate

v.
US //ˈnævəˌɡeɪt// UK //nˈævɪɡˌeɪt// nav·i·gate
  1. 1 to direct a vehicle (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to plan and direct the route of a ship, aircraft, or car.

    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.

    Example

    Early sailors used the stars to navigate their ships across the ocean.

    Example

    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).
  2. 2 computing (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    to move around a website or computer screen to find what you need.

    to move between web pages, menus, or digital interfaces using hyperlinks or interface controls.

    Example

    The website is very easy to navigate because the menu is clear.

    Example

    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'.
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  1. 3 to handle a situation (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to find a way to deal with a difficult or complicated situation.

    to find a way through a complex or difficult process or social situation. Figurative use.

    Example

    She helped her friend navigate the difficult process of applying for a visa.

    Example

    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'.
Origin

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”).

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