communicate

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verb com·mu·ni·cate \ kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of communicate

communicated; communicating

transitive verb

1 archaic :share

2 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.

3 :to cause to pass from one to another

Some diseases are easily communicated.

intransitive verb

1 :to receive Communion

Some Christians communicate in both elements, bread and wine.

2 :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.

3 :to open into each other :connect

The rooms communicate.

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communicatee

play \kə-ˌmyü-ni-kə-ˈtē\ noun

—

communicator

noun

See communicate defined for English-language learners

See communicate defined for kids

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 of communicate from the Web

Bob Stern, a former Fair Political Practices Commission general counsel, said lawmakers should communicate with their constituents, and spending on mail in nonelection years generally doesn’t bother him.

— Washington Post, "AP Exclusive: California taxpayers fund legislative mailings," 31 Aug. 2017
For the past year, the two companies have been coordinating behind the scenes to make Alexa and Cortana communicate with each other.

— nick wingfield, New York Times, "‘Cortana, Open Alexa,’ Amazon Says. And Microsoft Agrees.," 30 Aug. 2017
The department should conduct agency-wide training on the concept of community policing and clearly communicate the role of patrol officers and supervisors in community policing.

— gina barton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "DOJ draft details recommendations for Milwaukee police," 30 Aug. 2017
For the past year, the two companies have been coordinating behind the scenes to make Alexa and Cortana communicate with each other.

— nick wingfield, New York Times, "‘Cortana, Open Alexa,’ Amazon Says. And Microsoft Agrees.," 30 Aug. 2017
For the past year, the two companies have been coordinating behind the scenes to make Alexa and Cortana communicate with each other.

— nick wingfield, The Seattle Times, "‘Cortana, open Alexa,’ Amazon says — and Microsoft agrees," 29 Aug. 2017
The two exchanged cellphone numbers at the 2016 fair and began communicating through text messages, according to the documents.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Former deputy enters not guilty plea to child porn charges," 28 Aug. 2017
When on land, penguins make all sorts of grunts and squeals to communicate within their colonies, writes George Dvorsky at Gizmodo.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Watch Gentoo Penguins Hunting From a Bird’s Eye View," 28 Aug. 2017
A naturalist and some animal guests will show families the different ways animals communicate with each other at 10:30 a.m. at Daggerwing Nature Center, Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, 11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "What to do with the kids this weekend: World fest, free parks, open houses," 23 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'communicate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of communicate

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1529

See Words from the same year

communicate Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

deliver, hand over, surrender, turn over; broadcast, diffuse, disseminate, propagate; hand down, hand on; contaminate, infect, poison

Near Antonyms

catch, come down (with), contract

COMMUNICATE Defined for English Language Learners

communicate

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verb

Definition of communicate for English Language Learners

: to give information about (something) to someone by speaking, writing, moving your hands, etc.
: to get someone to understand your thoughts or feelings
medical : to pass (a disease) from one person or animal to another

COMMUNICATE Defined for Kids

communicate

play

verb com·mu·ni·cate \ kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt \

Definition of communicate for Students

communicated; communicating

1 :to get in touch

“… we won't be able to communicate. The mail is unpredictable …”
—Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

2 :to make known

I communicated my needs to the nurse.

3 :to pass (as a disease) from one to another :spread

Medical Dictionary

communicate

play

transitive verb com·mu·ni·cate \ kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt \

medical Definition of communicate

communicated; communicating

:to cause to pass from one to another

some diseases are easily communicated

Learn More about communicate

See words that rhyme with communicate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for communicate Spanish Central: Translation of communicate Nglish: Translation of communicate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of communicate for Arabic speakers

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communicate

Definition of communicate

communicatee

communicator

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Examples of communicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of communicate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of communicate

communicate Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

COMMUNICATE Defined for English Language Learners

communicate

Definition of communicate for English Language Learners

COMMUNICATE Defined for Kids

communicate

Definition of communicate for Students

Medical Dictionary

communicate

medical Definition of communicate

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