contact

American  

[kon-takt] / ˈkɒn tækt /

noun

• contacts
  plural

1. the act or state of touching; a touching or meeting, as of two things or people.

2. immediate proximity or association.

3. an acquaintance, colleague, or relative through whom a person can gain access to information, favors, influential people, and the like.

4. Electricity. a junction of electric conductors, usually metal, that controls current flow, often completing or interrupting a circuit.

5. Geology. the interface, generally a planar surface, between strata that differ in lithology or age.

6. Medicine/Medical. a person who has lately been exposed to an infected person.

7. Sociology. a condition in which two or more individuals or groups are placed in communication with each other.

8. contact lens.

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verb (used with object)

• contacts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• contacted,
  past participle,  past
• contacting
  present participle

1. to put or bring into contact.

2. to communicate with.

   We'll contact you by mail or telephone.

verb (used without object)

• contacts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• contacted,
  past participle,  past
• contacting
  present participle

1. to enter into or be in contact.

adjective

1. involving or produced by touching or proximity.

   contact allergy.

contact British  

/ kɒnˈtæktjʊəl /

noun

1. the act or state of touching physically

2. the state or fact of close association or communication (esp in the phrases in contact, make contact )

3. 1. a junction of two or more electrical conductors

   2. the part of the conductors that makes the junction

   3. the part of an electrical device to which such connections are made

4. an acquaintance, esp one who might be useful in business, as a means of introduction, etc

5. any person who has been exposed to a contagious disease

6. photog See contact print

7. (usually plural) an informal name for contact lens

8. (modifier) of or relating to irritation or inflammation of the skin caused by touching the causative agent

   contact dermatitis

9. (modifier) denoting an insecticide or herbicide that kills on contact, rather than after ingestion or absorption

10. (modifier) of or maintaining contact

11. (modifier) requiring or involving (physical) contact

    the contact sport of boxing

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verb

1. to put, come, or be in association, touch, or communication

interjection

1. aeronautics (formerly) a call made by the pilot to indicate that an aircraft's ignition is switched on and that the engine is ready for starting by swinging the propeller

contact Scientific  

/ kŏn′tăkt′ /

1. Electricity

   1. A connection between two conductors that allows an electric current to flow.

   2. A part or device that makes or breaks a connection in an electrical circuit.

2. Geology The place where two different types of rock, or rocks of different ages, come together.

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Usage

Many verbs in English have derived from nouns. One can head an organization or toe the mark; butter the bread or bread the cutlet. Hence, grammatically at least, there is no historical justification for the once frequently heard criticism of contact used as a verb meaning “to communicate with”: The managing editor contacted each reporter personally. Despite the earlier objections to it and probably largely because there is no other one-word verb in the language to express the same idea, this use of contact has become standard in all types of speech and writing. Contact as a noun meaning “a person through whom one can gain access to information and the like” is also standard: My contact at the embassy says that the coup has been successful.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncontact
  noun
• recontact
  noun
• contactual
  adjective
• uncontacted
  adjective
• contactually
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• contacts
  plural

Participles

• contacting
  present
• contacted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• contact
  simple
• contacts
  simple
• have contacted
  perfect
• has contacted
  perfect
• am contacting
  progressive
• are contacting
  progressive
• is contacting
  progressive
• have been contacting
  perfect progressive
• has been contacting
  perfect progressive

Past

• contacted
  simple
• had contacted
  perfect
• was contacting
  progressive
• were contacting
  progressive
• had been contacting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will contact
  simple
• will have contacted
  perfect
• will be contacting
  progressive
• will have been contacting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of contact

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin contāctus “a touch,” noun use of past participle of contingere “to touch together, each other, on all sides,” from con- con- + -tingere, combining form of tangere “to touch”; cf. attain, tango

Explanation

Contact is the act of touching or communicating with someone or something else. The question increasingly isn't whether there is other life in the universe, but how on earth we will ever make contact with it. "To make contact" (the noun) means to establish some form of communication, be it physical, verbal, or some other kind. To contact (the verb) means to establish that communication. If you're looking to contact Madonna, good luck. She's got people whose only job it is to prevent folks like you from making contact with her. Batteries have two contacts, one positive and one negative. They are where the battery makes contact with the thing to which it provides power.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contact contacts contacted contacting

The lack of detail has alarmed advocacy and research groups that typically stay in regular contact with both companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Police urge anyone with information about Gallagher’s location to contact them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Another trek organiser Fishtail says it has lost contact with a group of 20 pilgrims, mostly Malaysians, who were travelling with guides and drivers.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

On the possibility of mediation, he said that any contact with the Orange Order previously has been on the basis of a "demand" for a parade.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

Having decided to enlist Ginny’s granddaughter, the pair needed to find a way to contact her.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

Both women went through "intense" vetting and were required to read and sign declarations stating that they had no contacts who were "engaged in criminal activities", the court heard.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Having previously established contacts within the universe of Insta meme-makers, I messaged a few sloppypasta enthusiasts to see whether they might be willing to speak to their use of these captions.

From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026

The Kremlin said Wednesday that Ratcliffe had "contacts" with Russia's special services on his visit to Moscow but did not meet President Vladimir Putin.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

On a typical day, Barton spends hours fielding texts and calls from contacts in think tanks, legislatures, Congress and the White House, his son Tim said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

“Tell me your contacts, and I will filter what I pass on to the English. Tell me, and you have confessed to your countrywoman and given nothing to the enemy.”

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Despite that, according to the whistleblower who contacted Blumenthal, the directive to reject entire batches if they included just one unverified ballot moved forward.

From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026

The other trust named has been contacted for comment.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

Salazar was identified after a motorist contacted police to report another driver who had aggressively confronted him minutes before Clinkunbroomer’s death, according to evidence presented at a prior hearing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

When contacted, a man who was listed as the managing director or a board member for all of the companies said he couldn’t talk and hung up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

They tell us our parents have been contacted.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

"I was just praying, and telling him that, 'just be calm, be careful and just keep contacting us'."

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

The Palestinian Embassy in London said it was closely monitoring the incident and contacting British authorities to establish the circumstances and check on the condition of the girl in hospital.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Maggie's says the King's public announcement prompted a 12% increase in men contacting them with a cancer diagnosis.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

She told shelter officials that she and her family had been scouring the neighborhood, including posting fliers and contacting local dog rescues.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

I should have realized he would be at her apartment, but I really had no way of contacting him there.

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

Related Words

• approach
• call
• connect
• phone
• reach
• talk
• telephone
• visit