Home › Travel & Culture › Exploration & Discoveries › navigate

navigate

NAV-ih-gayt /ˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/

verbB1IELTSTOEFLACT

GeneralTechnical

To plan and direct the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transport, especially by using instruments or maps.

Implies skill and the use of tools or intelligence to find a way through a complex situation.

The story behind the word. The word literally means 'to drive a ship.' In the ancient world, this was one of the most complex skills a human could possess, involving astronomy, geometry, and intuition.

Word relationships

steer: Steer is the physical act of turning; navigate is the mental act of planning the path.
pilot: Pilot usually refers specifically to aircraft or ships in difficult waters.

drift: To move aimlessly without a plan or direction.

Commonly confused with

circumvent: Circumvent means to go around something; navigate means to find a way through it.

Word family

navigation (noun): The process or activity of accurately ascertaining one's position and planning and following a route.
navigator (noun): A person who navigates.

Collocations

navigate the globe
navigate a website
navigate through
expertly navigate

Example sentences

"Early sailors had to navigate by the stars when they were out of sight of land." Sailing across the ocean.
"The new CEO had to navigate a difficult political landscape within the company." Social or political complexity.

Memory hook

A 'Navy' needs to 'Navigate'. Driving the ship through the mess.

When not to use

Don't use for a simple straight walk where no directions are needed.

Fun facts

The first 'navigators' used the 'dead reckoning' method, which involved calculating position based on speed and time.