Negotiate

verb

third person singular: negotiates | past tense: negotiated | past participle: negotiated | present participle: negotiating

Frequency

High

CEFR Level

Neutral

Domain

Negotiation

Definition

1. Have formal discussions to reach an agreement.
2. Arrange or agree on terms through discussion.
3. Successfully move through a difficult route.
4. Transfer financial instruments.

Context Alive

The company was about to lose its biggest client over a pricing dispute. The manager stepped in to negotiate a new deal directly with the client’s team, offering flexible payment terms and a small discount. By the end of the meeting, both sides were satisfied.

Meanings

4 meanings

1 Discuss to Reach an Agreement (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about talking with someone to find common ground. Imagine two neighbours arguing over a shared fence. They sit down to negotiate over who pays for repairs, each listening to the other’s side. This is negotiating — discussing to reach a deal. You might negotiate with your boss about flexible hours, or two countries could negotiate over trade rules. Or picture parents negotiating with a teenager about curfew, both sides giving a little. The word suggests a willingness to listen and compromise. ✏️ Here you negotiate WITH someone — the focus is on the discussion process, not a specific result.

Vivid Example

The workers were unhappy with their new schedule. Their representative sat down to negotiate with the management team for better hours, presenting clear arguments and staying calm throughout. After three rounds of talks, they finally reached a compromise.

2 Arrange Something Through Discussion (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about reaching a specific deal or agreement. Imagine a football club wanting to sign a new player. The club’s director sits down to negotiate a transfer fee with the other team, going back and forth on the price. This is negotiating something — arranging the details of a deal. You might negotiate a better salary at a job interview, or a company could negotiate a contract with a supplier. Or think about someone buying a house and negotiating the price down by pointing out repairs that are needed. The word carries a sense of strategic discussion. ✏️ Unlike Meaning 1, here there’s always a specific result — a deal, a price, or a contract that gets agreed on.

Vivid Example

The startup needed office space but had a tight budget. The founder managed to negotiate a lower rent with the building owner by agreeing to a longer lease. It was a smart move that saved the company thousands.

3 Successfully Move Through a Difficult Route (Verb) Common ▼

This meaning is about getting past something physically tricky. Imagine driving on a narrow mountain road full of sharp turns. You carefully negotiate each bend, adjusting your speed and gripping the wheel. This is negotiating a route — successfully handling a difficult path. You might negotiate a crowded market to reach a shop, or a boat could negotiate dangerous rapids. Or picture an elderly person carefully negotiating a flight of icy steps, holding the railing tightly. The word suggests skill and careful movement. ✏️ This has nothing to do with discussion — it means handling a physical challenge with care and control.

Vivid Example

The road up the mountain was full of tight curves and loose gravel. The driver carefully negotiated each turn at low speed, keeping full control of the car. By the time they reached the top, everyone felt relieved.

4 Transfer Financial Instruments (Verb) Specialized ▼

This meaning is about processing financial documents like checks or bonds. Imagine receiving a check from someone and taking it to the bank. The bank will negotiate that check, processing it and transferring the money into your account. This is negotiating a financial instrument — handling it officially. You might hear “the bonds were negotiated through a broker” or “the check was negotiated at the local branch.” Or think about a company negotiating securities through a bank to raise money for a new project. The word here is purely financial and technical. ✏️ This meaning is completely separate from the discussion meaning — it’s specifically about processing financial documents.

Vivid Example

The investor received a stack of bonds from an overseas partner. She took them to her bank to negotiate the instruments through proper channels, making sure every document was verified. The funds appeared in her account within a few days.

Examples from the Street

“You can’t just accept the first offer — you have to negotiate.”

You shouldn’t simply agree to the initial proposal — you need to push back and try to get better terms

“We negotiated a really good deal on the house.”

We went back and forth and managed to get a much better price on the property

“She’s impossible to negotiate with — she won’t give an inch.”

There’s no point trying to reach a compromise with her — she absolutely refuses to budge

Common Patterns

negotiate with [someone] → discuss terms with someone to reach a deal

negotiate a deal/contract/price → work through terms to reach an agreement

negotiate a salary/pay rise → discuss and try to improve your pay

negotiate the terms/conditions → discuss the specific details of an agreement

negotiate on behalf of [someone] → represent someone in a discussion to get them a good result

refuse to negotiate → completely reject any discussion or compromise

negotiate a path/route → carefully find your way through something tricky

negotiate a bend/corner → steer carefully around a curve (driving)

negotiate obstacles/challenges → work your way through difficulties

hard/difficult to negotiate → physically or socially tricky to get through

Collocations

4 collocations

negotiate a deal

discuss terms to reach an agreement

negotiate the terms

work out the conditions of an agreement

negotiate a settlement

reach a financial compromise

room to negotiate

flexibility in discussions

Example Sentences

12 examples

The union is currently negotiating with the management over working conditions

The workers’ representatives are currently in talks with the bosses about the rules and standards in the workplace.

She managed to negotiate a deal that saved the company over two million pounds

She succeeded in reaching an agreement that cut the firm’s costs by more than two million.

Most people don’t realise you can negotiate your salary when you get a job offer

The majority of people don’t know that you can push for better pay when a company offers you a position.

We need a lawyer to help us negotiate the terms of the lease before we sign anything

We need a legal professional to help us discuss the conditions of the rental agreement before we commit to anything.

The charity negotiated on behalf of the families affected by the disaster

The aid organisation represented the households hit by the catastrophe and pushed for support on their behalf.

The president refused to negotiate and insisted on the original proposal

The leader rejected any discussion and demanded the initial plan remain unchanged.

The hikers had to carefully negotiate a path through the rocky terrain

The walkers had to pick their way cautiously across the rough, uneven ground.

The bus driver skilfully negotiated the sharp bend on the narrow mountain road

The driver expertly steered around the tight curve on the thin hillside lane.

Starting a new business means negotiating countless obstacles — from funding to regulations

Launching a new company means working your way through endless hurdles — from securing money to dealing with official rules.

The stairs were icy and difficult to negotiate without holding on to the railing

The steps were covered in frost and extremely tricky to get down safely without gripping the handrail.

Learner Examples

★

As a teacher, you’re constantly negotiating with students — “finish this exercise and I’ll give you five minutes of free time at the end”

As an instructor, you’re always making deals with learners — “complete this task and I’ll let you have five minutes to relax before the bell rings.”

★

Learning to speak a foreign language means negotiating obstacles every day — fear of sounding silly, confusing similar words, and running out of vocabulary mid-sentence

Picking up a second tongue means working through barriers on a daily basis — the worry of embarrassing yourself, mixing up words that sound alike, and finding yourself stuck with no way to finish your thought.