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
Derived Forms
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contributivenessnoun
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noncontributivenessnoun
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uncontributivenessnoun
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overcontributeverb
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precontributeverb (used with object)
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contributableadjective
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contributiveadjective
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noncontributableadjective
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noncontributingadjective
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noncontributiveadjective
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uncontributedadjective
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uncontributingadjective
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uncontributiveadjective
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contributivelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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contributesimple
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contributessimple
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have contributedperfect
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has contributedperfect
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am contributingprogressive
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are contributingprogressive
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is contributingprogressive
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have been contributingperfect progressive
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has been contributingperfect progressive
Past
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contributedsimple
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had contributedperfect
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was contributingprogressive
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were contributingprogressive
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had been contributingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of contribute
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin contribūtus, past participle of contribuēre “to bring together”; see origin at con-, tribute
Explanation
To contribute something is to provide a part of the whole. When your company has their annual softball game and potluck picnic, you will probably be asked to contribute a dish, like your famous macaroni salad. Contribute comes from a Latin word that means “to bring together, add, or unite.” When you contribute to a cause, you are adding to what other people have kicked in, which makes the effort complete. You can contribute your singing talent to a traveling a cappella group; you can contribute money or time to save rhinoceroses; you can contribute cupcakes to the gymnastics team bake sale; or you can even contribute ideas on healthcare reform to a Washington think tank.
Vocabulary lists containing contribute
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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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.
See Examples For:
Australian shortstop Caitlin Eynon hit .375 in the World Cup and could contribute to the Queens’ lineup, too.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
A Forensic Collision Investigator's report found that the car did not contribute to the collision.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
For instance, “If you contribute 4% and your employer is going to match that 4%,” that’s like getting a 100% return on your contribution.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
The brokerage’s model estimates that this road, for which the Indonesian company manages some of the toll road network, will contribute 199 billion rupiah, or 8.8% of Ebitda growth over the next three years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
The last example shows that verbs can be drained of life when they are turned into adjectives, too, as when contribute becomes contributive to or aspire becomes on the aspirational level.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
In both scenarios, the couple contributes $480, but in the second scenario they get $30 per month more in savings.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
The second partner’s employer matches the first 6% contributed but at a 50% rate, or up to a total of 3% if the worker contributes at least 6%.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
“The combination of quitting smoking, plus exercise plus a healthy diet all contributes to better lung function,” Lee says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Using mouse models that lacked either cDC1 cells or a related subtype called cDC2, the team explored how each cell population contributes to the immune response after mRNA cancer vaccination.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026
The resulting fixed abode contributes to denser human populations by permitting a shortened birth interval.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
The wild success of the iPhone 17 cycle has contributed to these headwinds, Morningstar senior equity analyst William Kerwin told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
The Associated Press and former Times staff writer Christie D’Zurilla contributed to this report.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Consumer spending contributed 2.1 percentage points, while business investment added 1.2 points.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
"The continued industry-wide upward trend of prices also contributed to the record earnings," the company said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
Those and other draconian measures must have contributed to the spread of North China’s Sino-Tibetan languages over most of China, and to reducing the Miao-Yao and other language families to their present fragmented distributions.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
The Texas Newsroom obtained autopsies for prisoners named in the litigation, and three of those reports named heat as a contributing factor in the deaths.
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026
The other factors contributing to the shortfall are longer lives and increased earnings inequality.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
Anderson Cooper turned down a new deal to continue as a contributing correspondent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Fat accumulation in the liver may also have impaired the ability of pancreatic beta cells to release insulin, contributing to higher blood sugar levels in people in cluster 5.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
Muggle persecution of wizards at this time was reaching a pitch hitherto unknown and sightings of such beasts as dragons and Hippogriffs were contributing to Muggle hysteria.
From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling
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.
