communicate

[ kuh-myoo-ni-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, com·mu·ni·cat·ed, com·mu·ni·cat·ing.

1. to impart knowledge of; make known:

   to communicate information;

   to communicate one's happiness.

   Synonyms: reveal, disclose, announce, divulge

   Antonyms: conceal, withhold

2. to give to another; impart; transmit:

   to communicate a disease.

3. to administer the Eucharist to.
4. Archaic. to share in or partake of.

verb (used without object)

, com·mu·ni·cat·ed, com·mu·ni·cat·ing.

1. to give or interchange thoughts, feelings, information, or the like, by writing, speaking, etc.:

   They communicate with each other every day.

2. to express thoughts, feelings, or information easily or effectively.
3. to be joined or connected:

   The rooms communicated by means of a hallway.

4. to partake of the Eucharist.
5. Obsolete. to take part or participate.

communicate

/ kəˈmjuːnɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to impart (knowledge) or exchange (thoughts, feelings, or ideas) by speech, writing, gestures, etc
2. trusually foll byto to allow (a feeling, emotion, etc) to be sensed (by), willingly or unwillingly; transmit (to)

   the dog communicated his fear to the other animals

3. intr to have a sympathetic mutual understanding
4. intrusually foll bywith to make or have a connecting passage or route; connect
5. tr to transmit (a disease); infect
6. intr Christianity to receive or administer Communion

Derived Forms

• comˈmunicatory, adjective
• comˈmuniˌcator, noun

Other Words From

• noncom·muni·cating adjective
• over·com·muni·cate verb overcommunicated overcommunicating
• precom·muni·cate verb precommunicated precommunicating
• uncom·muni·cating adjective
• well-com·muni·cated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of communicate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin commūnicātus “imparted,” past participle of commūnicāre “to impart, make common,” equivalent to commūn(is) common + -icāre, verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of communicate¹

C16: from Latin commūnicāre to share, from commūnis common

Synonym Study

Communicate, impart denote giving to a person or thing a part or share of something, now usually something immaterial, as knowledge, thoughts, hopes, qualities, or properties. Communicate, the more common word, implies often an indirect or gradual transmission: to communicate information by means of letters, telegrams, etc.; to communicate one's wishes to someone else. Impart usually implies directness of action: to impart information.

Example Sentences

"They need to make clear that cannabis is a product meant for adults and communicate its potential harms, especially for developing adolescent brains."

From Science Daily

Their amygdala was communicating with a nearby brain region called the hippocampus that remembers and predicts.

From Science Daily

She said that during her first year in office, her staff communicated with the property owner about turning the site into a city park.

From Los Angeles Times

"SNNs are artificial neural networks that mimic how biological brains process information using brief, discrete signals, much like how neurons in animal brains communicate," Miss Hussaini said.

From Science Daily

Two of Dr. Li's doctoral students, Micah Yang and David Bakker, have engineered a new molecule that could transform how cells adhere to and communicate with one another.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• advertise
• broadcast
• connect
• contact
• convey
• correspond
• disclose
• disseminate
• get across
• get through
• impart
• inform
• interact
• pass on
• publicize
• reach out
• relate
• reveal
• suggest
• tell