participate

[pahr-tis-uh-peyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR participate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), par·tic·i·pat·ed, par·tic·i·pat·ing.

to take or have a part or share, as with others; partake; share (usually followed by in): to participate in profits; to participate in a play.

verb (used with object), par·tic·i·pat·ed, par·tic·i·pat·ing.

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

Origin of participate

1525–35; < Latin participātus (past participle of participāre “to share”), equivalent to particip- (stem of particeps) “taking part, partner” (see participle) + -ātus -ate¹

Related formspar·tic·i·pat·ing·ly, adverbpar·tic·i·pa·tive, adjectivepar·tic·i·pa·tive·ly, adverbpar·tic·i·pa·tor, nounpar·tic·i·pa·to·ry

[pahr-tis-uh-puh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /pɑrˈtɪs ə pəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectiveun·par·tic·i·pat·ed, adjectiveun·par·tic·i·pat·ing, adjectiveun·par·tic·i·pa·tive, adjective

Synonym study

1. See share¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for participate

play, engage, perform, share, cooperate, compete, aid, partake, concur, strive

Examples from the Web for participate

Contemporary Examples of participate

Most of it is taken up by a graphic inviting the visitor to participate in the 2016 online presidential straw poll.
Today’s GOP: Still Cool With Racist Pandering?
Michael Tomasky
January 7, 2015
Did he participate in his own extortion and cancel his plans for a big Christmas premiere?
Should the U.S. Really Pay a Kim’s Ransom?
Kevin Bleyer
December 21, 2014
“The union did not organize any official contingent to participate in the protests,” Kim said.
The High-Priced Union Rep Charged With Attacking a Cop
Jacob Siegel
December 19, 2014
Volunteers only need to “attend a 16-hour course” in order to participate.
To Catch a Sex Worker: A&E’s Awful, Exploitative Ambush Show
Samantha Allen
December 19, 2014
Like baseball, our political system is more engaging if you participate.
Baseball’s Problem Is Politics’ Problem
Doug McIntyre
November 4, 2014

Historical Examples of participate

So let us hasten to this institution, and participate this divine joy.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox
Palliating the evil, hiding the evil, voting for the evil, do we not participate in it?
The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII)
John Greenleaf Whittier
Still, this did not mean that he would refuse to participate in matters of business.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
Dupot and Mondesir made haste to participate in Gascogne's triumph.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
I was then at an age to feel and to participate in her sorrows.
Beaux and Belles of England
Mary Robinson

British Dictionary definitions for participate

participate

verb

(intr often foll by in) to take part, be or become actively involved, or share (in)

Derived Formsparticipant, adjective, nounparticipation, nounparticipator, nounparticipatory, adjective

Word Origin for participate

C16: from Latin participāre, from pars part + capere to take

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

Word Origin and History for participate

1530s, back-formation from participation, or else from Latin participatus, past participle of participare "to share, share in, participate in; to impart," from particeps "partaking, sharing," from parti, past participle of partir "to divide" (see part (n.)) + -cip-, weak form of stem of capere "to take" (see capable). Related: Participated; participating.