contribute
verb (used with object)
to give (money, time, knowledge, assistance, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc., as for charitable purposes.
were contributing
-
past progressiveof contribute.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Peter Gould, the prison's vocational manager, said the work could help reduce reoffending because it taught inmates skills to support future employment and helped them feel they were contributing to the community.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
Medus said that other states were contributing to the investigation, and that the food that made people sick was served at other restaurants besides Chipotle, based on the evidence gathered so far.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
In the report, half of the L.A. hotel respondents said they assumed that visa barriers and distance from venues were contributing to the low early bookings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
In 2010, Congress passed the Hunger-Free Kids Act, which prohibited whole milk in school lunches due to concerns that saturated fat and high calories were contributing to a slew of health problems in children.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2025
After Scott had set up his congregation, he found that Komo was embezzling money from people who were contributing to the fight against the removal.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
