donate

American  

[doh-neyt, doh-neyt] / ˈdoʊ neɪt, doʊˈneɪt /

verb (used with object)

donated, donating

1. to present as a gift, grant, or contribution; make a donation of, as to a fund or cause.

   to donate used clothes to the Salvation Army.

   Synonyms:

   bequeath, present, bestow, contribute

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verb (used without object)

donated, donating

1. to make a gift, grant, or contribution of something; give; contribute.

   They donate to the Red Cross every year.

donate British  

/ dəʊˈneɪt /

verb

1. to give (money, time, etc), esp to a charity

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Other Word Forms

• donator
  noun
• predonate
  verb (used with object)
• undonated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of donate

1775–85, probably back formation from donation

Explanation

To donate means to give something — money, goods, or time — to some cause, such as a charity. The word has a more altruistic meaning than does simply "giving"; it suggests that you don't expect anything in return for the contribution. The verb donate has always meant "to give," all the way back to the Latin verb donāre, "to give as a gift." Trace it back even further, to the ancient Indo-European roots, and you still have that same feeling to the word — "a gift." But it's more than a gift — it's a gift with the intention of helping. As an African proverb says, "If everybody in town donates one thread, the poor man has a shirt."

Example Sentences

Consider the following fundamental principles: First, billionaires should be allowed to donate their money however they wish, short of financing criminal enterprises.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

That’s the takeaway from a new Commonwealth Foundation report on the state’s two modest programs that offer tax credits to businesses and individuals who donate to scholarship organizations.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Sometimes, competition is involved; Abbott Labs and the Big Ten held a contest for supporters of Big Ten universities to donate blood on behalf of their chosen team.

From Slate • May 9, 2026

QCDs allow individuals aged 70 ½ and older to donate up to $111,000 from an IRA directly to charity, satisfying RMDs and excluding the amount from taxable income.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

You shouldn’t donate to charity, help the elderly cross the street, or rescue puppies in the hopes you’ll be repaid later.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

Related Words

• award
• bequeath
• contribute
• devote
• give
• give away
• grant
• hand out
• present
• provide