navigate

navigate — verb

1. To plan a route and direct the movement of a vehicle, boat, or aircraft, or to f

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

To plan a route and direct the movement of a vehicle, boat, or aircraft, or to find and follow a path across land, water, or through a place.

例句

Felix used a map to navigate across the mountain range during his hiking trip.

navigate + across + physical area

The captain carefully navigated the container ship through the narrow canal.

transitive: navigate + vehicle + through + obstacle

同義詞
  • steer

    focuses on the physical act of turning the wheel or handlebars; less about route planning

  • pilot

    more technical, usually for aircraft or large ships; suggests trained skill

  • guide

    can mean leading someone else; does not imply operating a vehicle

反義詞
  • drift

    moving without direction or control

  • get lost

    phrasal verb meaning to fail to find the way

文法句型

navigate + noun (ship / aircraft / vehicle)

navigate + across/through/along + area

navigate + by + method (map / stars / GPS)

用法筆記

Frequently used with prepositions indicating the medium (across the ocean, through the forest, along the coast) or the method (by map, by GPS, by the stars).

常見錯誤

❌We navigated the car to the store.
✅We drove the car to the store.
💡'navigate' is about route planning and direction-finding, not simply operating a vehicle in familiar territory.

2. To find and move between different pages, sections, or features of a website, ap

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

To find and move between different pages, sections, or features of a website, app, or computer system.

例句

Jin quickly navigated to the settings page to change the password.

navigate to + page / location (digital)

Shirin showed her grandmother how to navigate the photo album app on the tablet.

transitive: navigate + noun (application)

同義詞
  • browse

    more casual and general; does not suggest a specific destination or goal

  • explore

    suggests discovering content without a fixed plan

  • move through

    less specific; a general description of going from one page to another

文法句型

navigate + to + noun phrase (page / folder)

navigate + noun (website / system / app)

easy/difficult + to navigate

用法筆記

Commonly combined with evaluative adjectives (easy to navigate, difficult to navigate, well-designed for navigation). Can be used transitively (navigate the menu) or intransitively with to (navigate to the home page).

常見錯誤

❌I was navigating the internet for an hour.
✅I was browsing the internet for an hour.
💡'navigate' usually refers to finding your way within a specific site or system, not general web browsing.

3. To make your way through a set of difficult or unfamiliar circumstances, reachin

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

To make your way through a set of difficult or unfamiliar circumstances, reaching a positive result by making careful decisions.

例句

Hannah had to navigate a series of visa applications before she could study abroad.

navigate + noun phrase (series of applications)

The new manager navigated the team through a difficult period of change.

navigate + person + through + situation

同義詞
  • handle

    broader and less metaphorical; does not suggest a path through obstacles

  • negotiate

    also metaphorical, but stronger on bargaining or compromise between parties

  • manage

    focuses on successful control rather than finding a way through

反義詞
  • struggle

    involves difficulty without success

  • fail

    implies the outcome was unsuccessful

文法句型

navigate + noun (situation / crisis / system / process)

navigate + noun + through + noun

用法筆記

The object is typically an abstract noun referring to a challenging process (bureaucracy, negotiations, regulations) or a crisis. Often implies the person found a successful path despite obstacles.

常見錯誤

❌She navigated what to eat for dinner.
✅She navigated the complicated dietary restrictions at the restaurant.
💡'navigate' should only be used when the situation is genuinely challenging or complex.