communicate

verb

com·​mu·​ni·​cate kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce communicate (audio)
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 noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Professors receive hundreds of emails each week—students who communicate clearly and respectfully stand out immediately. Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Hall announced his early retirement and exit from NIH in April, citing censorship of how his research findings were communicated. Lauren Kim, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025 The 20th century introduced the Information Age, a time when data and global connectivity became the main drivers of how people worked and communicated. Time, 6 Aug. 2025 When the grant terminations began, two grants-management officials told me, officials were forbidden from communicating with researchers, even as their voicemails and inboxes flooded with panicked questions. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for communicate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of communicate was in 1529

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Communicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communicate. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

communicate

verb
com·​mu·​ni·​cate kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce communicate (audio)
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 noun

Medical Definition

communicate

transitive verb
com·​mu·​ni·​cate kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce communicate (audio)
communicated; communicating
: to cause to pass from one to another
some diseases are easily communicated

More from Merriam-Webster on communicate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!