verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
US:/ˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
US:năv′-ĭ-gāt
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:N AE1 V AH0 G EY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To plan, control and record the position and course of a vehicle, ship, aircraft, etc., on a journey; to follow a planned course.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
He navigated the bomber to the Ruhr.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To give directions, as from a map, to someone driving a vehicle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
You drive. I'll navigate.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To travel over water in a ship; to sail.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
We navigated to France in the dinghy.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To move between web pages, menus, etc. by means of hyperlinks, mouse clicks, or any other mechanism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
First attested in 1588; borrowed from Latin nāvigātus, the perfect passive participle of nāvigō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from nāvis (“ship”) + -igō, from Proto-Indo-European *néh2us (“boat”).
Across languages
Translations
50 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
навигирам
(navigiram)
— plan, control
Dutch:
navigeren
— plan, control
Finnish:
ohjata
— plan, control
Finnish:
suunnistaa
— plan, control
German:
die Richtung vorgeben
— plan, control
German:
steuern
— plan, control
Hebrew:
נִוֵּט
(nivvét)
— plan, control
Italian:
seguire
— plan, control
Italian:
dirigere
— plan, control
Latin:
gubernō
— plan, control
Macedonian:
навиги́ра
(navigíra)
— plan, control
Afrikaans:
navigeer
— travel over water
Albanian:
Lundrim
— travel over water
Bulgarian:
плавам
(plavam)
— travel over water
Catalan:
navegar
— travel over water
Dutch:
varen
— travel over water
Dutch:
navigeren
— travel over water
Finnish:
purjehtia
— travel over water
Finnish:
navigoida
— travel over water
French:
naviguer
— travel over water
German:
über Wasser fahren
— travel over water
Hebrew:
נִוֵּט
(nivet)
— travel over water
Italian:
navigare
— travel over water
Latin:
nāvigō
— travel over water
Macedonian:
пло́ви
(plóvi)
— travel over water
Macedonian:
корми́лари
(kormílari)
— travel over water
Māori:
whakatere
— travel over water
Norwegian:
navigere
— travel over water
Portuguese:
navegar
— travel over water
Spanish:
navegar
— travel over water
Spanish:
singlar
— travel over water
Swedish:
navigera
— travel over water
Welsh:
hwylio
— travel over water
Afrikaans:
navigeer
— move on the internet
Bulgarian:
сърфирам
(sǎrfiram)
— move on the internet
Catalan:
navegar
— move on the internet
Dutch:
navigeren
— move on the internet
Dutch:
surfen
— move on the internet
Finnish:
siirtyä
— move on the internet
Finnish:
navigoida
— move on the internet
French:
naviguer
— move on the internet
German:
surfen
— move on the internet
German:
navigieren im Internet
— move on the internet