contribute
verb
con·trib·ute
kən-ˈtri-(ˌ)byüt
-byət
also and especially before -ed or -ing -ˈtri-bət;
chiefly British also ˈkän-trə-ˌbyüt
contributed; contributing; contributes
1
transitive + intransitive
: to give or supply (something, such as money or time) as a part or share
contribute money to a cause
contributed canned goods to the food drive
What percentage of your pay should you contribute to your 401(k)?
We'd like to thank all who contributed their time and effort.
I'm happy to attend, but I don't have much to contribute to the discussion.
Many people contributed to the fund-raising campaign.
If you are a parent, success is probably defined by how well your children turned out. Are they happy, successful adults? Do they contribute to society in a positive way?—Bill Nordbrock
2
transitive + intransitive
: to supply (something, such as an article) for a publication
He contributed several poems to the magazine.
The following authors contributed to this issue: …
3
intransitive
: to play a significant part in making something happen
Many players have contributed to the team's success.
"We cannot address climate change without looking at all the components that are contributing to the problem of emissions."—Tony de Brum
Cite this Entry
“Contribute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contribute. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.
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