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to negotiate

to negotiate

28 4.1
Move carefully through or around something difficult, like a steep path
  • verb
  • /nɪˈɡoʊʃieɪt/
translation icon : sortear
  • From the transfer center, she can independently negotiate her way to the next bus stop.
  • negotiate rough terrain
  • negotiate difficulties
  • negotiate a path

Now it very much depends on how good it is at negotiating these very fine branches.

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Examples

  • She had to negotiate the rocky path carefully to reach the summit safely.

  • It's getting harder to negotiate these stairs.

  • Yeah, yeah, yeah, big time trying to negotiate a crazy bus route looking like this.

  • I can negotiate our way out of this.

  • How is it that we manage to negotiate this space in many, many countries successfully?

  • We slowly negotiated our way out, right.

  • The steep decline would be tough to negotiate with mountaineering equipment and proper footwear.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • And because my mother didn't drive, I negotiated the buses and the trolleys all around Boston.

  • The presidential limousine has a difficult time negotiating its way through the blockading buses.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Hector is following the paramedics as they negotiate Mrs. Philippopolis down the three flights of stairs.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

to manage
vsto negotiate
3.2

To do something difficult, often with little help

focuses on overcoming a specific obstacle rather than general coping or surviving
to bypass
vsto negotiate
119 4.7

To avoid dealing with a problem by using a different method

means getting past an obstacle by direct success or navigation rather than avoiding
to get around
vsto negotiate
115 4.2

Avoid doing something difficult or needed by finding a clever way

describes succeeding by passing obstacles rather than by clever avoidance
to go around
vsto negotiate
76 3.5

Find another way to avoid a difficult rule or task

covers getting through or past an obstacle rather than only finding another way
to plough one's way through
vsto negotiate
  • UK
1 7.4

To move forward with difficulty through people or things with effort

succeeds by going through or around obstacles without relying on force

Antonyms

898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

How Easy

to breeze through
  • Informal
5 3.6
to negotiate
28 4.1

Surface Forms

negotiate infinitive
negotiated past
negotiated past participle
negotiating present participle
negotiates third person singular

Etymology

Negotiate comes from the Latin parts ne- 'not' and otium 'leisure', which together meant 'business'. Think of negotiating a steep slope as 'doing the work' to get through a hard place, so the word now also means to manage or get past a difficulty.