Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense navigates, present participle navigating, past tense, past participle navigated
1. verb
When someone navigates a ship or an aircraft somewhere, they decide which course to follow and steer it there. You can also say that a ship or an aircraft navigates somewhere.
Captain Cook safely navigated his ship without accident for 100 voyages. [VERB noun]
The purpose of the visit was to navigate into an ice-filled fiord. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The system will enable aircraft to navigate with pinpoint accuracy. [VERB]
The expedition was wrecked by bad planning and poor navigation.
...the boat's navigation system.
2. verb
When a ship or boat navigates an area of water, it sails on or across it.
...a lock system to allow sea-going craft to navigate the upper reaches of the river. [VERB noun]
Such boats can navigate on the Nile. [VERB preposition]
Synonyms: sail, cruise, manoeuvre, voyage More Synonyms of navigate
3. verb
When someone in a car navigates, they decide what roads the car should be driven along in order to get somewhere.
When travelling on fast roads at night, it is impossible to drive and navigate atthe same time. [VERB]
...the relief at successfully navigating across the Golden Gate Bridge to arrivehere. [VERB preposition/adverb]
They had just navigated their way through Maidstone on their way to the coast. [VERB noun preposition]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: map-read, give directions, plan a route More Synonyms of navigate
4. verb
When fish, animals, or insects navigate somewhere, they find the right direction to go and travel there.
In tests, the bees navigate back home after being placed in a field a mile away. [VERB adverb/preposition]
[Also VERB]
5. verb
If you navigate an obstacle, you move carefully in order to avoid hitting the obstacle or hurting yourself.
He was not able to walk without a cane and could only navigate steps backwards. [VERB noun]
In the corridors he let her navigate her own way round the trolleys and other obstacles. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Guests had to navigate around chairs in the middle of the room. [VERB preposition/adverb]
6. verb
If you manage to navigate a difficult situation, you deal with it successfully.
[written]
During childhood each of us has to navigate a pathway through a series of developmentalstages. [VERB noun]
This outlook helped her to navigate through her later years with success. [VERBthrough noun]
More Synonyms of navigate
navigate in British English
(ˈnævɪˌɡeɪt)
verb
1.
to plan, direct, or plot the path or position of (a ship, an aircraft, etc)
2. (transitive)
to travel over, through, or on (water, air, or land) in a boat, aircraft, etc
3. informal
to direct (oneself, one's way, etc) carefully or safely
he navigated his way to the bar
4. (intransitive)
(of a passenger in a motor vehicle) to give directions to the driver; point out the route
5. (intransitive) rare
to voyage in a ship; sail
Word origin
C16: from Latin nāvigāre to sail, from nāvis ship + agere to drive
navigate in American English
(ˈnævəˌgeɪt)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈnaviˌgated or ˈnaviˌgating
1.
to steer, or direct, a ship or aircraft
2. US, Informal
to make one's way; walk
3. Rare
to travel by ship
verb transitive
4.
to travel through or over (water, air, or land) in a ship or aircraft
5.
to steer or direct (a ship or aircraft)
6.
to plot the course for (a ship or aircraft)
7. Informal
to walk or make one's way on or through
Word origin
< L navigatus, pp. of navigare, to sail < navis, a ship (see navy) + agere, to lead, go (see act1)
Examples of 'navigate' in a sentence
navigate
Your reminders will help you navigate this process.
Christianity Today (2000)
This is difficult enough to navigate for anyone in the electronics and entertainment business.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The maps are designed for road travel and navigating cities rather than roaming the wilds on foot.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It does no good to set one community against another when the police and security services are trying to navigate new territory.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
navigate
British English: navigate VERB
When someone navigates a ship or an aircraft somewhere, they decide which course to follow and steer it there. You can also say that a ship or an aircraft navigates somewhere.
He was responsible for safely navigating his ship without accident.
American English: navigate
Brazilian Portuguese: pilotar
Chinese: 航行
European Spanish: navegar
French: piloter
German: navigieren
Italian: pilotare
Japanese: 航行する
Korean: 항해하다
European Portuguese: pilotar
Latin American Spanish: navegar
Chinese translation of 'navigate'
navigate
(ˈnævɪɡeɪt)
vt
[ship, aircraft]导(導)航 (dǎoháng)
[river, ocean]在 ... 航行 (zài ... hángxíng)
vi
(in a car) 指路 (zhǐlù)
[birds, fish]找到正确(確)的方向 (zhǎodào zhèngquè de fāngxiàng)
to navigate (one's way) around sth (lit) 绕(繞)过(過)某物 (ràoguo mǒuwù)
to navigate (a path) through sth (fig) 找到解决(決)的方法 (zhǎodào jiějué de fāngfǎ)
1 (verb)
Definition
to direct or plot the course or position of a ship or aircraft
He was responsible for safely navigating the ship.
Synonyms
steer
What is it like to steer a ship of this size?
drive
direct
A guard directed them to the right.
guide
She took the bewildered man by the arm and guided him out.
handle
pilot
We are piloting the strategy through Parliament.
sail
I shall get myself a little boat and sail her around the world.
skipper
con (nautical)
manoeuvre
2 (verb)
Definition
to direct or plot the course or position of a ship or aircraft
She expertly navigated the plane through 45 minutes of fog.
Synonyms
manoeuvre
We attempted to manoeuvre the canoe closer to him.
drive
Don't expect to be able to drive a car or operate machinery.
direct
She will direct day-to-day operations.
guide
She guided the plane down the runway and took off.
handle
One report said the aircraft would become difficult to handle.
pilot
Local fishermen piloted the boats.
3 (verb)
Definition
to direct (oneself) carefully or safely
They navigated by the sun and stars.
Synonyms
plot a course
sail
find your way
plan a course
4 (verb)
Definition
to travel over or through safely
Such boats can be built locally and can navigate on the Nile.
Synonyms
sail
We sailed upstream.
cruise
She wants to cruise the canals of France in a barge.
manoeuvre
voyage
The boat is currently voyaging through the Barents Sea.
5 (verb)
Definition
(of a passenger in a vehicle) to read the map and give directions to the driver
It is impossible to drive and navigate at the same time.
Synonyms
map-read
give directions
plan a route
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cruise
Definition
to sail about from place to place for pleasure
She wants to cruise the canals of France in a barge.
Synonyms
sail,
coast,
voyage
in the sense of direct
Definition
to tell (someone) the way to a place
A guard directed them to the right.
Synonyms
guide,
show,
lead,
conduct,
steer,
usher,
point the way,
point in the direction of
in the sense of direct
Definition
to conduct or control the affairs of
She will direct day-to-day operations.
Synonyms
control,
run,
manage,
lead,
rule,
guide,
handle,
conduct,
advise,
govern,
regulate,
administer,
oversee,
supervise,
dispose,
preside over,
mastermind,
call the shots,
call the tune,
superintend
Synonyms of 'navigate'
navigate
Explore 'navigate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drive
Definition
to guide the movement of (a vehicle)
Don't expect to be able to drive a car or operate machinery.
Synonyms
operate,
manage,
direct,
guide,
handle,
pilot,
steer,
navigate
in the sense of guide
Definition
to lead the way for (tourists or travellers)
She took the bewildered man by the arm and guided him out.
Synonyms
lead,
direct,
escort,
conduct,
pilot,
accompany,
steer,
shepherd,
convoy,
usher,
show the way
in the sense of guide
Definition
to control the movement or course of
She guided the plane down the runway and took off.
Synonyms
steer,
control,
manage,
direct,
handle,
command,
manoeuvre
in the sense of handle
Definition
to hold, move, operate, or touch with the hands
One report said the aircraft would become difficult to handle.
Synonyms
control,
manage,
direct,
operate,
guide,
use,
steer,
manipulate,
manoeuvre,
wield
in the sense of pilot
Definition
to guide or lead (a project or people)
We are piloting the strategy through Parliament.
Synonyms
direct,
lead,
manage,
conduct,
steer
in the sense of pilot
Definition
to act as pilot of
Local fishermen piloted the boats.
Synonyms
navigate,
drive,
manage,
direct,
guide,
handle,
conduct,
steer
in the sense of voyage
Definition
to go on a voyage
The boat is currently voyaging through the Barents Sea.