communicate

verb

com·​mu·​ni·​cate kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt 

communicated; communicating

transitive verb

1

a

: to convey knowledge of or information about : make known

communicate a story

She communicated her ideas to the group.

b

: to reveal by clear signs

His fear communicated itself to his friends.

He communicated his dissatisfaction to the staff.

2

: to cause to pass from one to another

Some diseases are easily communicated.

3

archaic : share

intransitive verb

1

: to transmit information, thought, or feeling so that it is satisfactorily received or understood

two sides failing to communicate with each other

The computer communicates with peripheral equipment.

2

: to open into each other : connect

The rooms communicate.

3

: to receive Communion

Some Christians communicate in both elements, bread and wine.

communicatee

kə-ˌmyü-ni-kə-ˈtē 

noun

Synonyms

• conduct
• convey
• give
• impart
• spread
• transfer
• transfuse
• transmit

Examples of communicate in a Sentence

He was asked to communicate the news to the rest of the people.

She communicated her ideas to the group.

The two computers are able to communicate directly with one another.

The pilot communicated with the airport just before the crash.

The couple has trouble communicating.

the challenge of getting the two groups to communicate with each other

We communicate a lot of information through body language.

He communicated his dissatisfaction to the staff.

If you're excited about the product, your enthusiasm will communicate itself to customers.

The disease is communicated through saliva.

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, one of their biggest developments is familiar to all of us: the World Wide Web — which was first envisioned as a way for particle physicists around the globe to communicate more efficiently — was created at CERN in 1989. —Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2024

Really, these last couple weeks have been great to get to know the guys, feel each other out a little bit, communicate and really be able to move and understand where people are going to be. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 31 May 2024

Lange, present for every second of this solitary 12-minute stretch, doesn’t need dialogue to communicate what her character is thinking and feeling. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024

The study’s results add further evidence that certain bird species may communicate numerical information. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin communicatus, past participle of communicare to impart, participate, from communis common — more at mean

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

communicate

verb

com·​mu·​ni·​cate kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt 

communicated; communicating

1

a

: to make known

communicate the news

b

: to pass from one to another : transmit

communicate a disease

2

: to transmit information, thought, or feeling so that it is satisfactorily received or understood

the pilot communicated with the airport

3

: to open into each other : connect

the rooms communicate

communicator

-ˌkāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

communicate

transitive verb

com·​mu·​ni·​cate kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt 

communicated; communicating

: to cause to pass from one to another

some diseases are easily communicated