collaborate

collaborate
 
verb | kuh-LAB-uh-rayt
 
What It Means
 
To collaborate is to work with another person or group in order to do or achieve something. Collaborate can also be used disapprovingly to mean "to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an enemy who occupies it during a war."
 
// Several research teams from various countries collaborated closely on the project.
 
// They were suspected of collaborating with enemy forces.

collaborate
verb
col·;lab·;o·;rate k;-;la-b;-;r;t
collaborated; collaborating
Synonyms of collaborate
intransitive verb

1
: to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor
An international team of scientists collaborated on the study.
2
: to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force
suspected of collaborating with the enemy
3
: to cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected
The two schools collaborate on library services.
collaboration
k;-;la-b;-;r;-sh;n
 noun
collaborative
k;-;la-b;-;r;-tiv
-b(;-)r;-
 adjective or noun
collaboratively
k;-;la-b;-;r;-tiv-l;
-b(;-)r;-
 adverb


Did you know?
The Latin prefix com-, meaning "with, together, or jointly," is a bit of a chameleon—it has a habit of changing its appearance depending on what it's next to. For example, if the word it precedes begins with l, com- becomes col-. In the case of collaborate, com- teamed up with the verb laborare ("to labor") to form the Late Latin word collaborare ("to labor together"). Be careful not to confuse collaborate with corroborate, another com- relative. This word was formed when com- (this time shape-shifting to cor-) joined forces with the Latin word robur ("strength"). Together, by way of the Latin verb corroborare, they created the meaning "to support or help prove (a statement, theory, etc.) by providing information or evidence," which carried over into the English word corroborate.

Synonyms
band (together)
concert
concur
conjoin
conspire
cooperate
join
league
team (up)
unite
Examples of collaborate in a Sentence
The two companies agreed to collaborate.
He was suspected of collaborating with the occupying army.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The artist collaborated with organizers at the foundation to plan the sweeping showcase of his work.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Uchis also took the oppurtunity to thank Jennie for inviting her to collaborate on Ruby.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2025
As a producer, Mischer collaborated with artists like Beyonc;, Bono, Prince, Rihanna, Britney Spears, James Taylor, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Adele, Mary J. Blige, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Barbra Streisand, Justin Bieber, Jon Bon Jovi and Carrie Underwood.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 12 Apr. 2025
FootJoy golf shoes asked him to collaborate on its line of Premiere Series shoes.
—Michael Croley, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History
Etymology
Late Latin collaboratus, past participle of collaborare to labor together, from Latin com- + laborare to labor — more at labor

First Known Use
1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of collaborate was in 1837