cooperation

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The act of working together with other people or groups to reach a shared aim.

   Grammar: No plural and no a: cooperation between teams.

   Patterns

   • cooperation with someone
   • cooperation between people
   • cooperation on something

   The project succeeded because of close cooperation between the two schools.

   We need your cooperation to finish the work on time.

   International cooperation is vital in tackling climate change.

2. 2noununcountable

   Willingness to follow rules or help someone by doing what they ask.

   Grammar: Often appears in polite requests: thank you for your cooperation.

   Patterns

   • thank someone for their cooperation
   • with the cooperation of someone

   The police thanked the public for their cooperation.

   The witness refused to offer any cooperation.

   Staff are asked for their full cooperation during the fire drill.

3. 3noununcountablebusiness

   An economic arrangement in which people or businesses combine their efforts for shared benefit.

   Grammar: Used in business and farming contexts.

   Patterns

   • economic cooperation
   • cooperation agreement

   The farmers formed a cooperation to share costs and equipment.

   Trade cooperation between the two countries has grown.

   The firms signed a cooperation agreement last spring.

Common combinations

in cooperation with

The event was organized in cooperation with local charities.

close cooperation

Close cooperation between teachers and parents helps pupils.

international cooperation

International cooperation is needed to protect the oceans.

full cooperation

The company promised full cooperation with the inquiry.

lack of cooperation

A lack of cooperation slowed the whole project.

Synonyms and how they differ

collaboration

Collaboration usually means creating something together, such as a book, while cooperation can be simply helping or going along with others.

teamwork

Teamwork is more informal and focuses on people working smoothly in a group.

partnership

Partnership suggests a formal, lasting relationship, but cooperation can be brief.

assistance

Assistance means help given to someone, whereas cooperation is mutual.

Opposites

Word family

cooperate verb

to work together or to do as asked

cooperative adjective

willing to help and work with others

cooperative noun

a business owned and run by its members

uncooperative adjective

unwilling to help

Commonly confused: cooperation or corporation?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “cooperation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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