contribute
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to give to a common supply, fund, etc..
He contributes to many charities.
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to furnish written works, drawings, etc., for publication.
Our thanks to those who contributed to our alumni newsletter.
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to be an important factor; help to cause something.
A sudden downpour contributed to the traffic jam.
verb
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to give (support, money, etc) for a common purpose or fund
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to supply (ideas, opinions, etc) as part of a debate or discussion
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(intr) to be partly instrumental (in) or responsible (for)
drink contributed to the accident
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to write (articles) for a publication
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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contributivenessnoun
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noncontributivenessnoun
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uncontributivenessnoun
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overcontributeverb
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precontributeverb (used with object)
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contributableadjective
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contributiveadjective
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noncontributableadjective
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noncontributingadjective
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noncontributiveadjective
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uncontributedadjective
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uncontributingadjective
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uncontributiveadjective
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contributivelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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contributesimple
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contributessimple
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have contributedperfect
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has contributedperfect
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am contributingprogressive
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are contributingprogressive
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is contributingprogressive
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have been contributingperfect progressive
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has been contributingperfect progressive
Past
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contributedsimple
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had contributedperfect
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was contributingprogressive
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were contributingprogressive
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had been contributingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing contribute
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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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:
Besides mentioning it during a few arguments, Remy said, her mother hasn’t asked her to contribute or threatened to cut her off.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
All the money you contribute stays in the pot, if you don’t use it up.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
Alongside the new mission awards, the agency also announced several additional opportunities for US industry to contribute to future Moon Base infrastructure.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
He added, though, that he and his teammates were “able to separate the emotion from the job at hand,” and the distractions didn’t contribute to the disappointing loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
“Hope Springs has always been special to me. My time here shaped me in ways that to this day contribute to my success, and for that, I’m very grateful to this community.”
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
For every dollar a highway officer earns in compensation, the state contributes 65 cents to his pension.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
"Our work helps explain our fascination with crystals and contributes to the understanding of the evolutionary roots of aesthetics and worldview," concluded García-Ruiz.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
NOx is a smog-forming pollutant that aggravates respiratory illnesses, especially asthma, forms acid rain and contributes to nutrient pollution in coastal waters.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
The tomato brings sweetness and acidity; the soy contributes salt and savory depth.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
Everyone who buys the furniture will have contributed to the destruction of the forest, and the destruction of the forest contributes to the process of global warming.
From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall
Alphabet’s stock drop also contributed to a broader selloff across the tech sector.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026
The company said the strong uptake of its new drugs Jascayd for pulmonary fibrosis and Hernexeos for lung cancer also contributed to sales growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Senior Coroner Alison Mulch recorded the cause of death as Alzheimer's disease, contributed to by CTE, along with another neurodegenerative condition and cerebrovascular disease.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
The agency estimates it has contributed about $30 million in resources, while participating companies have invested an additional $32 million.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
The Wheelers always contributed generously to Granger fund-raisers.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
If you are setting money aside for taxes, contributing to an emergency fund, and paying down debt, you’ll likely feel less anxiety about spending on nonessentials, and your financial decisions won’t feel like a gamble.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Even if you are contributing £10 each for three members of staff, that costs the same as taking the family out for coffee and pastries, they pointed out.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” continued its strong run with an $18.5-million haul, enough for third place and contributing to a total global gross of $879.1 million.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
The research was supported by the DOE Basic Energy Sciences program along with additional contributing partners.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
Bono had been trained to read and write, as contributing to his usefulness as Mr. Gitney’s valet.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
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.
