Contribute Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

CONTRIBUTE meaning: 1 : to give (something, such as money, goods, or time) to help a person, group, cause, or organization usually + to or toward; ... TheBritannicaDictionary mobilesearch Home AsktheEditor WordoftheDay Quizzes CoreVocabulary BrowsetheDictionary × BritannicaHomepage AsktheEditor WordoftheDay Quizzes CoreVocabulary BrowsetheDictionary TheBritannicaDictionary contribute 1ENTRIESFOUND: contribute(verb) contribute /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ verb contributes; contributed; contributing contribute /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ verb contributes; contributed; contributing BritannicaDictionarydefinitionofCONTRIBUTE 1  : togive(something,suchasmoney,goods,ortime)tohelpaperson,group,cause,ororganization —usually+toortoward [+object] Hecontributed[=donated]100dollarstothecharity. Thevolunteerscontributedtheirtimetowardscleaningupthecity. Shecontributed[=added]littletothediscussion. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples [noobject] We'retryingtoraisemoneyforanewschool,andwe'rehopingthateveryonewillcontribute. Hedidnotcontributetotheproject. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 2  [noobject] : tohelptocausesomethingtohappen Inorderfortheteamtowin,everyonehastocontribute. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples —usually+to Manyplayershavecontributedtotheteam'ssuccess. Heavydrinkingcontributedtoherdeath.[=heavydrinkinghelpedtocauseherdeath] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 3  : towrite(something,suchasastory,poem,oressay)foramagazine [+object] Hecontributedmanypoemstothemagazine. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples [noobject] Tenscientistscontributedtothespecialeditionofthejournal. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples —contributing adjective Thecoach'spositiveattitudewasacontributingfactorto/intheteam'ssuccess.[=thecoach'spositiveattitudewasareasonfortheteam'ssuccess] Shehasbeenacontributingwriter/editorforthemagazinefor10years. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples —contributor /kənˈtrɪbjətɚ/ noun, plural contributors [count] Sheisaregular/frequentcontributortothemagazine. alistofcontributorswhohavedonatedmorethanonethousanddollars [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples ASKTHEEDITOR IsitOKtosay"IamgettingmyoilchangedONtomorrow."? Seetheanswer» QUIZZES VocabularyQuiz Testyourwordpower TaketheQuiz» NameThatThing Takeourvisualquiz TestYourKnowledge» WORDOFTHEDAY gooey :wetandsticky(informal) LearnMore» AboutUs&LegalInfo PartnerProgram ContactUs PrivacyNotice TermsofUse PronunciationSymbols Help ©2022EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.