communicate

[kuh-myoo-ni-keyt]

verb (used with object)

communicated, communicating 

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)

communicated, communicating 

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. 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. 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

Other Word Forms

• noncommunicating adjective
• overcommunicate verb
• precommunicate verb
• uncommunicating adjective
• well-communicated adjective
• communicatory adjective
• communicator noun

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

Babies generate an enormous number of synapses, the points where neurons communicate.

Read more on Science Daily

The tracing work showed that ACA and ORB each communicate with a variety of cell types in their target regions rather than a single cell class.

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“Why’s he so obsessed with me?” he said Wednesday in an Instagram post — an example of how Garcia often uses pop culture to communicate to a more general audience.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Autism is a multifaceted condition that shapes how an individual communicates, interacts socially and interprets the world.

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The couple are accused of using the camera and a mobile phone to see the casino card table, and communicating with "deep seated earpieces" to bet on card games.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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