Synonyms

participate

American

[pahr-tis-uh-peyt] / pɑrˈtɪs əˌpeɪt /

verb (used without object)

to take or have a part or share, as with others; partake; share (usually followed byin ).

to participate in profits;
to participate in a play.

verb (used with object)

Archaic. to take or have a part or share in; partake in; share.

participate British

/ pɑːˈtɪsɪˌpeɪt /

verb

to take part, be or become actively involved, or share (in)

"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

Synonym Usage

See share ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of participate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin participātus “shared,” past participle of participāre “to share,” equivalent to particip- (stem of particeps ) “taking part, partner” ( see participle) + -āre, verb suffix

Explanation

If you take part in an activity or organization, you participate in it. For example, you participate in a conversation by listening to and talking with others, or you participate in a sport by joining a team and taking part in practices and games. You can use the verb participate to mean "be involved in" or "share in." Sometimes it is easy to figure out who participates in something — the runners in a race, the people waiting their turn to audition for a part in a play. Sometimes it isn't so obvious. If two students cause trouble but the teacher punishes the whole class, it might be that in not stopping the troublemakers, she views everyone as having participated — just being there means they were involved.

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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.

He wants writers, performers, producers, everyone, to participate.

From Salon • Jul. 5, 2026

Doubts about their profitability could introduce a lot of volatility to the AI trade, so while investors should participate in it, they should also “be prepared for a very bumpy ride,” Wang noted.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 5, 2026

Mr Justice Rooney said the best option was to adjourn the inquest until August or September to allow all members of the jury to participate in the process until it concludes.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026

They consume different information, participate in different conversations and inhabit different realities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

Lucy needs to participate more in class discussions.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

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