contribute [kuh n-trib -yoot]
Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for contribute on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), con·trib·ut·ed, con·trib·ut·ing. to give (money, time, knowledge, assistance, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc., as for charitable purposes. to furnish (an original written work, drawing, etc.) for publication: to contribute stories to a magazine. Show More
verb (used without object), con·trib·ut·ed, con·trib·ut·ing. to give (money, food, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc.: He contributes to many charities. to furnish works for publication: He contributed to many magazines. Show More
contribute to , to be an important factor in; help to cause: A sudden downpour contributed to the traffic jam. Show More
Origin of contribute 1520–30; <
Latin contribūtus past participle of
contribuēre to bring together. See
con- ,
tribute Related forms con·trib·ut·a·ble , adjective con·trib·u·tive , adjective con·trib·u·tive·ly , adverb con·trib·u·tive·ness , noun non·con·trib·ut·a·ble , adjective non·con·trib·ut·ing , adjective non·con·trib·u·tive , adjective non·con·trib·u·tive·ly , adverb non·con·trib·u·tive·ness , noun o·ver·con·trib·ute , verb, o·ver·con·trib·ut·ed, o·ver·con·trib·ut·ing. pre·con·trib·ute , verb (used with object), pre·con·trib·ut·ed, pre·con·trib·ut·ing. pre·con·trib·u·tive , adjective un·con·trib·ut·ed , adjective un·con·trib·ut·ing , adjective un·con·trib·u·tive , adjective un·con·trib·u·tive·ly , adverb un·con·trib·u·tive·ness , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for contributive Historical Examples of contributive It would be foolish to ignore the contributive force of this sense.
Henry James proposed, in each instance, to disclose "the contributive value of the accessory facts in a given artistic case."
Description also, in the most artistic fiction, is used only as subsidiary and contributive to narration.
But it is in narrative and in description that the quality of style is most contributive to the maximum effect.
The contributive part of French in the new vocabulary corresponds to the branches of activity reserved to the new-comers.
British Dictionary definitions for contributive 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 Show More
Derived Forms contributable , adjective contributive , adjective contributively , adverb contributiveness , noun Word Origin for contribute C16: from Latin contribuere to collect, from tribuere to grant, bestow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for contributive v. 1520s, from Latin contributus , past participle of contribuere "to bring together, add, unite, collect, contribute" (see contribution ). Figurative sense is from 1630s. Related: Contributed ; contributing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
