Definition of communicate
communicated
;communicating
transitive verb
1 archaic : share
2a : 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.
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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
-
Lin pleaded guilty last month to mishandling classified information, communicating national defense information and failing to report foreign contacts.
-
Nixon and the Soviets President Nixon used several back channels to communicate with the Soviet Union, starting in 1968 after winning the election that November and before his inauguration.
-
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is instituting new programs to better communicate with residents of the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site in East Chicago as cleanup of the lead and arsenic contamination continues.
-
Five former lawyers and another former employee from Jones Day — the law firm that handled compliance matters and other legal issues for the Trump campaign — also have been given waivers to communicate with the firm.
-
Last week, news reports said Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, sought a back-channel to communicate with the Russian government during the presidential transition.
-
Inside the virtual airplane, operators seated at 10 stations toward the rear of the aircraft monitored large computer screens, analyzing the radar data and communicating with U.S. forces.
-
An October 12 email thread shared among members of the intel group provides a striking example of how TigerSwan was able to cast suspicion on specific individuals and communicate it to law enforcement officials.
-
Congress created Brand USA with the 2010 Travel Promotion Act, aiming to spur international travel to America and to help communicate visa and entry policies.
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
First Known Use: 1529
COMMUNICATE Defined for English Language Learners
communicate
playDefinition 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
playDefinition 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
playMedical 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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up communicate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!