did not cooperate

USAGE SUMMARY

'did not cooperate' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone did not take part in a joint effort. For example: "The other members of the team tried their best, but Bill did not cooperate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the weather did not cooperate.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. O'Brien did not cooperate with the report, it said.

The New York Times

Mr. Vickers did not cooperate with the project.

The New York Times - Arts

The weather, as ornery as some teenagers, did not cooperate.

The New York Times

But she did not cooperate with the inquiry.

The Guardian

Chinese officials did not cooperate with the investigation.

The New York Times

But the first Palestinian witnesses did not cooperate.

The New York Times

The ball, however, did not cooperate, missing on the high side.

The New York Times

But Mr. Balde did not cooperate with investigators, Mr. Browne said, and no one was charged.

The New York Times

"And she did not cooperate tonight on a couple different occasions".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's unwillingness to help, use "did not cooperate" in contexts where active participation is expected, such as investigations or team projects.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice when using "did not cooperate". Instead of saying "Cooperation was not provided", use the active voice: "They did not cooperate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not cooperate" functions primarily as a negative assertion, indicating a lack of willingness to work jointly or assist in a given activity. Ludwig provides examples showing this usage in contexts ranging from weather not behaving as expected to individuals refusing to aid investigations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "did not cooperate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys a lack of collaboration or assistance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from diverse sources, spanning news media, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While suitable for a variety of contexts, it is particularly prevalent in news reporting. When using this phrase, consider whether alternative phrasings like "refused to collaborate" or "declined to participate" might be more precise or nuanced. Also, using active voice in the sentences will make them more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refused to collaborate

Emphasizes a deliberate choice not to work together.

declined to participate

Highlights a formal rejection of involvement.

failed to assist

Focuses on the lack of help provided.

was uncooperative

Describes a general attitude of unwillingness to help.

offered no assistance

Stresses the absence of any support.

remained unsupportive

Indicates a lack of encouragement or backing.

did not lend support

Highlights the refusal to provide backing or aid.

was unresponsive

Suggests a failure to react or answer requests.

stonewalled the investigation

Implies actively hindering an inquiry through silence or evasion.

obstructed the process

Indicates intentional interference with a procedure.

FAQs

What does "did not cooperate" mean?

The phrase "did not cooperate" means that someone refused to work with others or follow instructions, hindering a joint effort or investigation.

What can I say instead of "did not cooperate"?

You can use alternatives like "refused to collaborate", "declined to participate", or "failed to assist" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "did not cooperate" or "was uncooperative"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "did not cooperate" focuses on a specific action, while "was uncooperative" describes a general attitude. The best choice depends on the specific situation you're describing.

How do I use "did not cooperate" in a sentence?

Example: "The witness "did not cooperate" with the police, hindering their investigation."