contribute
Americanverb (used with object)
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contributes,
present (3rd person singular)
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contributed,
past participle, past
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contributing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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contributes,
present (3rd person singular)
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contributed,
past participle, past
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contributing
present participle
-
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:
The process involves naturally occurring iodine, sulfur, and organic compounds that are released into the air and contribute to the formation of new atmospheric particles.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
The result is a vicious circle that can contribute to the progression of dementia.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
Journal readers are wise, idealistic and knowledgeable and almost invariably have insights that contribute more to any subject than I can.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
And did that impairment contribute to the aircraft's sudden loss of altitude?
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
“What does America mean to you? Why do you want to stay? How will you contribute to making America greater?”
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
Scientists have long known that dietary fiber contributes to these benefits because gut microbes help break it down.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026
Critics have argued that this growing array of services contributes to rising college costs and an emphasis on comforts and conveniences rather than educational value.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The Almaraz plant, which contributes around seven percent of Spain's electricity production, is a key source of industry and employment in mostly rural, depopulated Extremadura.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
The court also heard that he contributes to a website, easily found online, which claims he is innocent.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Each of these recurrent exposures, no matter how slight, contributes to the progressive buildup of chemicals in our bodies and so to cumulative poisoning.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Meanwhile, Prof Emily Jones, a psychologist at King's College London believes the Covid pandemic may have contributed to rising social anxiety, particularly among young people.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Meta’s trial began Tuesday, with four states seeking as much as $1.4 trillion in damages, alleging that Facebook and Instagram contributed to a youth mental health crisis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Times staff writer Andrea Flores contributed to this report.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
International and domestic observer missions said at the weekend that the conditions had contributed to an uneven playing field.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
Cody contributed another $500 and a fancy saddle on condition the race end in his own arena.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Kelly Crow is a staff reporter covering the art market for The Wall Street Journal and a contributing editor for WSJ.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
A cause of death was not revealed but an autopsy Monday found no signs of trauma that would have been a contributing factor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
"The longitudinal exploration of cardiovascular health throughout life, rather than assessing it at a single time point, could also provide further insight into the trajectory phenotypes contributing to cognitive decline by ethnicity," Vazquez said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
But about 40% of the deaths were in one state, Florida, making the Sunshine State the biggest factor contributing to the US's rise in executions.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
That way, blind people could get paid for being led around, and could be contributing members of our society, and we’d all be safer, too.
From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer
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.
