Synonyms

contribute

American

[kuhn-trib-yoot] / kənˈtrɪb jut /

verb (used with object)

to give (money, time, knowledge, assistance, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc., as for charitable purposes.

Synonyms:

donate, furnish, provide
to furnish (an original written work, drawing, etc.) for publication.

to contribute stories to a magazine.

verb (used without object)

to give to a common supply, fund, etc..

He contributes to many charities.
to furnish written works, drawings, etc., for publication.

Our thanks to those who contributed to our alumni newsletter.
to be an important factor; help to cause something.

A sudden downpour contributed to the traffic jam.

contribute British

/ kənˈtrɪbjuːt /

verb

to give (support, money, etc) for a common purpose or fund
to supply (ideas, opinions, etc) as part of a debate or discussion
(intr) to be partly instrumental (in) or responsible (for)

drink contributed to the accident
to write (articles) for a publication

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

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.

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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:

contribute contributes contributed contributing

As a result, those eligible for so-called super catch-up contributions could contribute a total of $35,750 in 2026.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

And it seems that these undetected flares may contribute to several of the hallmark diseases of old age.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

Despite having to make difficult selection decisions, Mourinho has stressed the importance of keeping every member of his squad motivated and ready to contribute.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

Over time, repeated weight loss and regain could therefore contribute to a gradual reduction in muscle mass and increase the risk of sarcopenia, a condition characterized by declining muscle mass and strength.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

Olka had to contribute to the family’s coffers.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

Other states have similar plans to tackle a roadway scourge that the government says contributes to more than 10,000 deaths a year nationwide.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

The King, they said, "contributes ideas and encouragement on a wide range of issues, delivering practical results which help improve the lives of millions".

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

The cost of healthcare greatly contributes to how much seniors spend every year, but rapidly growing prices also affect the disparity between the CPI-W and CPI-E, Mary Johnson said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

Humans are approximately 99.9% genetically alike, yet the remaining 0.1% contributes to differences that can influence how individuals respond to treatment.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

“It’s the toluene. Toluene is colorless, but it’s used to dissolve and suspend the pigments in the polish, and helps the polish stick to the nail. It also contributes to its glossiness once it dries.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Discoveries involving these particles have contributed to five Nobel Prizes in Physics.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

Times staff writer Justine McDaniel contributed to this report.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026

Anyone spending $5,000 on such speech would be required to file a state report disclosing the “name, address, occupation, employer, and principal place of business of each person that contributed $100.01 or more.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

The Treasury has accepted it contributed to the death of a personal assistant and said "immediate steps" have been taken to tackle outstanding risks.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

I knew how arts and culture contributed to the development of a child.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Barrow sees funding woes for AI companies also contributing to a bear-market shift.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

When chlorpyrifos interfered with this cleanup system, damaged material accumulated inside neurons, contributing to their deterioration.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

Overnight lows have remained warmer than usual, contributing to residents’ discomfort, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Microsoft’s cloud business continued to post accelerating growth in the company’s most recent quarter, contributing to a higher profit and easing jitters over potential returns from the AI infrastructure build-out, WSJ reports.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

He wouldn’t disclose anything to Laila about their destination except to say that, with it, he was contributing to her education.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023