participate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Synonym Usage
See share 1.
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing participate
On Your Mark, Get Set, Commence Your Life!
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Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789)
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A Résumé of Active Words
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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.
“I’ve been able to use sport to participate in my life in a different way. Participate in life in a different way,” Rapinoe, 38, continued.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 1, 2023
Participate in cleanups, such as those hosted every Saturday by Friends of the LA River, or ask your tour guide about opportunities to help during your kayak trip.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2022
Participate successfully in the collaborative and social aspects of writing processes.
From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021
The “This Is Fine” dog, “Let People Enjoy Things,” “You Participate in Society”—all of those have been similarly repurposed on Twitter, on social media in general.
From Slate • Dec. 16, 2020
Participate, as if that was all we were capable of.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
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.
