Synonyms

contribute

American

[kuhn-trib-yoot] / kənˈtrɪb jut /

verb (used with object)

to give (money, time, knowledge, assistance, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc., as for charitable purposes.

Synonyms:

donate, furnish, provide
to furnish (an original written work, drawing, etc.) for publication.

to contribute stories to a magazine.

verb (used without object)

to give to a common supply, fund, etc..

He contributes to many charities.
to furnish written works, drawings, etc., for publication.

Our thanks to those who contributed to our alumni newsletter.
to be an important factor; help to cause something.

A sudden downpour contributed to the traffic jam.

contribute British

/ kənˈtrɪbjuːt /

verb

to give (support, money, etc) for a common purpose or fund
to supply (ideas, opinions, etc) as part of a debate or discussion
(intr) to be partly instrumental (in) or responsible (for)

drink contributed to the accident
to write (articles) for a publication

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Conjugated Forms

Present

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Etymology

Origin of contribute

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin contribūtus, past participle of contribuēre “to bring together”; see origin at con-, tribute

Explanation

To contribute something is to provide a part of the whole. When your company has their annual softball game and potluck picnic, you will probably be asked to contribute a dish, like your famous macaroni salad. Contribute comes from a Latin word that means “to bring together, add, or unite.” When you contribute to a cause, you are adding to what other people have kicked in, which makes the effort complete. You can contribute your singing talent to a traveling a cappella group; you can contribute money or time to save rhinoceroses; you can contribute cupcakes to the gymnastics team bake sale; or you can even contribute ideas on healthcare reform to a Washington think tank.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

contribute contributes contributed contributing

Under the Secure 2.0 legislation passed by Congress in 2022, people aged 60 to 63 who participate in workplace retirement plans can now contribute extra funds to their nest egg, up to $11,250.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

Both dietary patterns can contribute to elevated blood pressure, making them important targets for prevention and treatment.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

And it seems that these undetected flares may contribute to several of the hallmark diseases of old age.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

Despite having to make difficult selection decisions, Mourinho has stressed the importance of keeping every member of his squad motivated and ready to contribute.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

He didn’t just fail to contribute any talk of his own; he could hardly listen to hers.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Other states have similar plans to tackle a roadway scourge that the government says contributes to more than 10,000 deaths a year nationwide.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

The King, they said, "contributes ideas and encouragement on a wide range of issues, delivering practical results which help improve the lives of millions".

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

To diversify some of this exposure and protect against a lasting downturn in the sector, Lerner advocates the U.K. equity market where tech contributes less than 1% of the aggregate CFROI.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026

In particular, targeting the processes through which pyruvate contributes to fat accumulation may offer promising possibilities.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

The resulting fixed abode contributes to denser human populations by permitting a shortened birth interval.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Few countries have contributed more to the oil-spattered history of Formula One than Italy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

According to the Environment Agency, rainfall associated with both named storms, along with another area of low pressure on Monday, contributed to the wettest week across the UK for two years.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Sally Oey, a professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan, also contributed to the study.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

“I like to say we’ve contributed to the evolution of Studio City.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Galileo contributed to physics and astronomy, while teaching fortification and optics.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

The US has been involved in discussions, but is not contributing to the mission.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

Last quarter, the cost of unhedged jet fuel doubled, contributing to a jump in operating expenses that ate into the group’s profit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

When chlorpyrifos interfered with this cleanup system, damaged material accumulated inside neurons, contributing to their deterioration.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

Also contributing to the slowdown in hiring was a cycle of interest-rate increases by the Federal Reserve starting in 2022.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Cora thought better of contributing to the discussion.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023