Word
negotiate
Phoneticsne·go·ti·ate, stress on the second syllable
US/nəˈɡoʊʃiˌeɪt/
UK/nɪɡˈəʊʃɪˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to reach an agreement
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to talk with someone to reach an agreement, especially in business or politics.
v. to confer with others to reach a compromise or formal agreement. Often used intransitively with 'with' or transitively with the agreement as the object.
日本語:協議する※
“The union is meeting today to negotiate with the company for better pay.”
“The diplomats worked through the night to negotiate a ceasefire that both nations could realistically support without losing face.”
Usage
Often takes the preposition 'with' (the person) or 'for' (the goal).
02to transfer a document
C2 · Proficiency Law Technical · Formal
v. to transfer a legal document, like a cheque, to another person so they can use it.
v. to transfer a bill, draft, or other negotiable instrument to another person by delivery or endorsement.
“The bank will negotiate the cheque once you have signed the back of it.”
“The commercial paper was negotiated to a third party, effectively transferring all rights of payment to the new holder.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “negotiate” in context.
Verb
01. negotiate a difficult path
“The driver had to carefully negotiate a difficult path through the narrow mountain pass.”
verb + adj + noun
02. negotiate a settlement
“The two companies are trying to negotiate a settlement to avoid going to court.”
verb + noun
03. negotiate for a higher salary
“She felt confident enough to negotiate for a higher salary during her performance review.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
04. negotiate with the client
“We need to negotiate with the client to see if they can extend the deadline.”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
05. negotiate directly with the manager
“The union representatives decided to negotiate directly with the manager to resolve the dispute.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
06. successfully negotiate the contract
“After weeks of discussion, the legal team managed to successfully negotiate the contract.”
adv + verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“Dollimore has been negotiating with the museum to get access for children of “1066 country”, which she represents, to see the exhibition free of charge.” “This decision to allow increased charges comes on top of already-agreed bill rises that were negotiated with the water companies in 2024.” Etymology
c. 1598; borrowed from Latin negōtiātus, perfect active participle of negōtior (“to do business, trade”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from negotium (“business”) + -or, from nec (“not”) + otium (“leisure, ease, inactivity”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- 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 IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/negotiate
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0