contribute
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to give to a common supply, fund, etc..
He contributes to many charities.
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to furnish written works, drawings, etc., for publication.
Our thanks to those who contributed to our alumni newsletter.
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to be an important factor; help to cause something.
A sudden downpour contributed to the traffic jam.
verb
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to give (support, money, etc) for a common purpose or fund
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to supply (ideas, opinions, etc) as part of a debate or discussion
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(intr) to be partly instrumental (in) or responsible (for)
drink contributed to the accident
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to write (articles) for a publication
Other Word Forms
- contributable adjective
- contributive adjective
- contributively adverb
- contributiveness noun
- noncontributable adjective
- noncontributing adjective
- noncontributive adjective
- noncontributiveness noun
- overcontribute verb
- precontribute verb (used with object)
- uncontributed adjective
- uncontributing adjective
- uncontributive adjective
- uncontributiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of contribute
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin contribūtus, past participle of contribuēre “to bring together”; con-, tribute
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.
Others claimed that a re-grading process within the Welsh Ambulance Service has contributed to the current crisis.
From BBC
France and Canada—pledged “our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait.”
The 15 winners, who used to work 14-hour days together in the finance team, made a pact to stay connected throughout the years by contributing £5 to the lottery draw.
From BBC
Other contributing factors could include warming ocean temperatures or environmental improvements linked to the Clean Water Act.
From Science Daily
"By specifically disrupting folding dynamics, we were able to identify the aspects of spatial genome organization that contribute to gene regulation and expression."
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
