communicate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to impart knowledge of; make known.
to communicate information;
to communicate one's happiness.
-
to give to another; impart; transmit.
to communicate a disease.
-
to administer the Eucharist to.
-
Archaic. to share in or partake of.
verb (used without object)
-
to give or interchange thoughts, feelings, information, or the like, by writing, speaking, etc..
They communicate with each other every day.
-
to express thoughts, feelings, or information easily or effectively.
-
to be joined or connected.
The rooms communicated by means of a hallway.
-
to partake of the Eucharist.
-
Obsolete. to take part or participate.
verb
-
to impart (knowledge) or exchange (thoughts, feelings, or ideas) by speech, writing, gestures, etc
-
to allow (a feeling, emotion, etc) to be sensed (by), willingly or unwillingly; transmit (to)
the dog communicated his fear to the other animals
-
(intr) to have a sympathetic mutual understanding
-
to make or have a connecting passage or route; connect
-
(tr) to transmit (a disease); infect
-
(intr) Christianity to receive or administer Communion
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
communicatornoun
-
noncommunicatingadjective
-
communicatoryadjective
-
uncommunicatingadjective
-
well-communicatedadjective
-
overcommunicateverb
-
precommunicateverb
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have communicatedperfect
-
has communicatedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been communicatingperfect progressive
-
am communicatingprogressive 1st person singular
-
is communicatingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are communicatingprogressive
-
has been communicatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
communicatingparticiple
-
communicatessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had communicatedperfect
-
had been communicatingperfect progressive
-
were communicatingprogressive plural
-
communicatedparticiple
-
was communicatingprogressive singular
-
communicatedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of communicate
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
Explanation
To communicate is to exchange words, feelings, or information with others. They did communicate through texting and picture sharing, but the hug he gave his mom when he came home from college communicated more love than any instant message. There are countless ways to communicate! Using an exclamation point in the first sentence is a way to communicate excitement at the many ways to use communicate. A facial expression can communicate joy or anger, and something written can communicate ideas and instructions. Cave men learned to communicate by drawing on cave walls, and people in modern times communicate electronically. Up close or far away, humans and animals — and some would say extraterrestrials, too — are born to communicate.
Vocabulary lists containing communicate
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
STAAR Grade 7 Reading: The Language of the Test, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
These tests are designed to show how future missions could route data through relay satellites when needed or communicate directly with ground stations.
From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026
Chairman Kevin Warsh will communicate his plans for broader Fed policy and rates at the end of the central bank’s meeting on June 17.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
By Seasons 2 and 3, Maddy’s fashion became a way to communicate an aspirational power.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Try to keep all your caregivers in one hospital system so they can communicate with each other and are able to see you when you’re in the hospital.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
At some point in his naval career he realized that he had information about the American submarine fleet, and the secret codes it used to communicate, which he could trade for cash.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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.
