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

At the Mesulam Center, participants are evaluated each year and can choose to donate their brains for scientific study after death.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

In the days after the break-in, Celestial Collectibles saw nearby trading card shops donating stock and even children bringing in their own card collections to donate.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

She also picked up a gnome to donate to charity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

My husband thinks we should take some RMDs as taxable income now rather than donate all of it.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

"I mean, I'd like to give you something pretty. I was going to donate some clothes to the war effort and thought I'd give you the first choice before I do."

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

Related Words

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