navigate
verb
nav·i·gate
ˈna-və-ˌgāt 
navigated; navigating
1
: to travel by water : sail
navigated down to the mouth of the river
2
: to steer a course through a medium
specifically
: to operate an airplane
navigate by instrument
3
: get around, move
was well enough to navigate under his own power
1
a
: to sail over, on, or through
able to navigate the deep ocean waters
b
: to make one's way over or through : traverse
… navigate the Internet via hypertext links connecting information-rich computers around the world.—
Stephanie Losee
Stephanie Losee2
a
: to steer or manage (a boat) in sailing
b
: to operate or control the course of
navigate an airplane
Examples of navigate in a Sentence
For thousands of years, sailors navigated by the stars.
How about if you drive and I navigate?
I'd need a map to navigate the city.
Only flat-bottomed boats can safely navigate the canal.
He has learned to navigate in rough waters.
The downtown area is easily navigated on foot.
She has trouble navigating the stairs with her crutches.
It took us 10 minutes to navigate through the parking lot to the exit.
The captain navigated the ship.
He has had experience navigating airplanes through storms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Common sense and intuition are two aspects of intelligence that are still exclusively human and vital to our ability to navigate ambiguity, chaos and opportunity.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Here are five things to know about navigating the measles outbreak.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
The couple are still navigating a bi-coastal relationship, with Madix based in Los Angeles and Wai working as a fitness coach in New York City.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
The event challenges participating teams to navigate a 4-to-6-mile course, featuring 15 unique obstacles while raising funds for worthy organizations.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for navigate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Bernard Marr, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Here are five things to know about navigating the measles outbreak.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
The couple are still navigating a bi-coastal relationship, with Madix based in Los Angeles and Wai working as a fitness coach in New York City.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
The event challenges participating teams to navigate a 4-to-6-mile course, featuring 15 unique obstacles while raising funds for worthy organizations.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for navigate
Cite this Entry
“Navigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navigate. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
navigate
verb
nav·i·gate
ˈnav-ə-ˌgāt
navigated; navigating
1
a
: to travel by water
b
: to sail over, on, or through
navigate the Atlantic Ocean
2
a
: to direct one's course in a ship or aircraft
b
: to control the course of : steer
3
: to make one's way about, over, or through
navigate the new website
navigate the school's halls
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share