complicate

UK: /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪt/

US: /ˈkɑmplɪˌkeɪt/

US: (v. kom′pli kāt′; adj. kom′pli kit)

Inflections of 'complicate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

complicates

v 3rd person singular

complicating

v pres p

complicated

v past

complicated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pli•cate /ˈkɑmplɪˌkeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to make (something) complex, intricate, or difficult:
   He didn't want to complicate his life with marriage.

See -plic-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pli•cate  (v. kom′pli kāt′;adj. kom′pli kit), v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. to make complex, intricate, involved, or difficult:
   His recovery from the operation was complicated by an allergic reaction.

adj. 

2. complex;
   involved.
3. Insects [Entomol.] folded longitudinally one or more times, as the wings of certain insects.

• Latin complicātus (past participle of complicāre to fold together), equivalent. to com- com- + -plic- (combining form of *plecāre to fold, akin to plectī to plait; see complex) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1615–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

complicate verb / ˈkɒmplɪˌkeɪt/

1. to make or become complex

adjective / ˈkɒmplɪkɪt/

1. folded on itself: a complicate leaf
2. a less common word for complicated

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin complicāre to fold together, from plicāre to fold