Definition of "negotiate" in English

verb

1. (intransitive) To confer with others in order to come to terms or reach an agreement.

   • 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., to the eight fellow clergymen who opposed the civil rights action, "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Why We Can't Wait "You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue."

2. (transitive) To arrange or settle something by mutual agreement.

   • We negotiated the contract to everyone's satisfaction.
   • The client and server computers must first negotiate a network protocol to be used.

3. (transitive) To succeed in coping with, getting over or navigate a hazard or obstacle.

   • We negotiated the mountain track with difficulty.
   • Although the car was quite rickety, he could negotiate the curves very well.

4. (transitive) To transfer to another person with all the rights of the original holder; to pass, as a bill.

5. (obsolete) To transact business; to carry on trade.

6. (obsolete) To intrigue; to scheme.