Meaning & use
negotiating
Last updated
“negotiating” is a form of “negotiate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
taking part in formal discussions to reach an agreement
Grammar: Used in continuous tenses: They are negotiating. Can take an object: negotiate a deal, or be used without one: We are still negotiating.
Patterns
- be negotiating with someone
- be negotiating for something
- be negotiating a deal/agreement
The two sides are negotiating a new trade agreement.
She is negotiating with the landlord about the rent.
We were negotiating for better working conditions when the strike began.
adjectivebefore a noun
relating to the process of discussion and bargaining
Grammar: Used before nouns like 'position', 'team', 'skills': their negotiating position.
Patterns
- negotiating position
- negotiating team
- negotiating skills
The union's negotiating team met with management yesterday.
Good negotiating skills are essential in this job.
They took a tough negotiating position on wages.
Word forms
| third person singular | negotiates |
|---|---|
| past tense | negotiated |
| past participle | negotiated |
| -ing form | negotiating |
Common combinations
- negotiating a deal
- They spent hours negotiating a deal.
- negotiating with someone
- We are negotiating with our suppliers.
- negotiating position
- The country hardened its negotiating position.
- negotiating table
- Both sides returned to the negotiating table.
- negotiating skills
- She has excellent negotiating skills.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bargaining
- More informal and often about prices or conditions; 'negotiating' is broader and more formal.
- discussing
- Focuses on talking in general, not necessarily trying to reach a formal agreement.
Opposites
Word family
- negotiate verb
- to discuss formally to reach an agreement
- negotiation noun
- formal discussion aimed at an agreement
- negotiator noun
- a person who takes part in negotiations
- negotiable adjective
- able to be discussed or changed
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
When 'negotiate' takes the thing being discussed as its object, no preposition is needed: negotiate a contract. 'Negotiate for' means trying to get something, and 'negotiate with' is used for the other person, so options 1 and 3 do not fit 'a new contract' here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “negotiating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.