participate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Synonym Usage
See share 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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participationnoun
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participatornoun
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participantadjective
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participativeadjective
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participatoryadjective
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unparticipatedadjective
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unparticipatingadjective
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unparticipativeadjective
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participatinglyadverb
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participativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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participatesimple
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participatessimple
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have participatedperfect
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has participatedperfect
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am participatingprogressive
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are participatingprogressive
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is participatingprogressive
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have been participatingperfect progressive
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has been participatingperfect progressive
Past
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participatedsimple
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had participatedperfect
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was participatingprogressive
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were participatingprogressive
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had been participatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of participate
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin participātus “shared,” past participle of participāre “to share,” equivalent to particip- (stem of particeps ) “taking part, partner” ( see participle) + -āre, verb suffix
Explanation
If you take part in an activity or organization, you participate in it. For example, you participate in a conversation by listening to and talking with others, or you participate in a sport by joining a team and taking part in practices and games. You can use the verb participate to mean "be involved in" or "share in." Sometimes it is easy to figure out who participates in something — the runners in a race, the people waiting their turn to audition for a part in a play. Sometimes it isn't so obvious. If two students cause trouble but the teacher punishes the whole class, it might be that in not stopping the troublemakers, she views everyone as having participated — just being there means they were involved.
Vocabulary lists containing participate
On Your Mark, Get Set, Commence Your Life!
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Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789)
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A Résumé of Active Words
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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:
"If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The consulting work allows him to participate in the company’s retirement plan.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
"It's been really exciting to participate in this project," MSU Physics and Astronomy Professor Mark Voit said.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
If a player is not on the injured list and is selected for the Olympics but declines to participate, the player would be subject to fine and/or suspension.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
“I would keep you from the revels, but Madoc has specifically instructed that you participate in them. So heed my advice. Be careful, and perhaps you will find ways to be pleasing.”
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
And someone who participates in a clinical trial could run into interstate restrictions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
It is one of the few public accountability mechanisms that the Fed participates in where the focus is mostly on monetary policy.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
Real name Jon Harvey, Count Binface is a comedian and author who often participates in elections and by-elections always in a silver dustbin costume.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
However, they also agreed with Cipollone that tobacco liability cases do not get blanket federal preemption, especially if industry participates in fraud or other deceptive practices independent of a warning label.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
It participates in the pathos appeal inasmuch as it stirs an audience’s emotions to laughter—but more importantly, it participates in the ethos appeal, inasmuch as laughter is based on a set of common assumptions.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Graham Zusi, who played for the U.S. men’s national team between 2012 and 2017, participated in the 1994 World Cup opening ceremony as a 7-year-old.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
All the teams that participated and left with memories of being a part of the World Cup experience will also leave with a tax bill of some sort, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
Henry and I talked about Othelyn, how she participated in the Civil Rights Movement at a young age and was beloved by those who knew her.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
The other 12, apart from Balogun, have served a suspension for at least the next World Cup game their country participated in.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
The couple participated in sacred ceremonies, dressing and acting as the new Dionysus and Athena, the patron goddess of the city.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
Now, the event has 15 participating stores and a shuttle service to take participants to each location.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Ordinary people, not trained in historical or legal research, have little hope of participating in that exercise.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
"The WTA's women's eligibility policy is designed to promote equal athletic opportunities in women's professional tennis and maintain fair competition for all players participating in WTA tournaments," the governing body said.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
And one from financial company Schroders says even most workers who are participating in company retirement plans think the math is almost hopeless.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
I know she’s right, but I'm uncertain, uneasy about participating in another attempt at resistance.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
