contribute

verb

con·trib·ute | \ kən-ˈtri-byət

, -(ˌ)byüt also and especially before -ed or -ing -ˈtri-bət; chiefly British also ˈkän-trə-ˌbyüt\

contributed; contributing

Definition of contribute

transitive verb

1 : to give or supply in common with others contribute money to a cause

2 : to supply (something, such as an article) for a publication He contributed several poems to the magazine.

intransitive verb

1a : to give a part to a common fund or store contribute to a fund-raising campaign

b : to play a significant part in bringing about an end or result Many players have contributed to the team's success.

2 : to submit articles to a publication

Other Words from contribute Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about contribute

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Examples of contribute in a Sentence

The volunteers contributed their time towards cleaning up the city. We're trying to raise money for a new school, and we're hoping that everyone will contribute. He did not contribute to the project. In order for the team to win, everyone has to contribute. He contributed many poems to the magazine. Ten scientists contributed to the special edition of the journal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Previous research has even suggested that the heavy clouds and rainfall from the eruption contributed to Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo three months later in Belgium. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, "Why a volcanic eruption caused a 'year without a summer' in 1816," 17 Sep. 2019 Some observers have speculated that time spent retrieving luggage may have contributed to passenger deaths. — Author: Christopher Elliott, Anchorage Daily News, "How to evacuate a plane," 17 Sep. 2019 Boehmig also claims Ironclad can contribute to legal departments' bottom lines by using a company's collection of contracts as a source of business intelligence. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, "Ironclad, the ‘Salesforce for Lawyers,’ Raises $50 Million," 17 Sep. 2019 Fox News' Madeline Farber, Luka Mikelionis and Caleb Parke contributed to this report. — Fox News, "Linda Sarsour, other leaders accused of anti-Semitism parting with Women's March," 17 Sep. 2019 Manager Andy Green said there is no doubt the ailments have contributed to Renfroe hitting four home runs in 148 at-bats since the All-Star break. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Padres notes: Renfroe more than ready to stop being ‘miserable,’ start playing again," 16 Sep. 2019 Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Mary Clare Jalonick, Calvin Woodward and Amanda Seitz contributed to this report. — BostonGlobe.com, "WASHINGTON — Ten Democrats seeking the presidency sparred Thursday night in a sprawling debate that put all qualifying contenders on the same stage for the first time.," 13 Sep. 2019 The new study reveals how neonicotinoids, also known as neonics, could be directly contributing to the die-offs. — Stephen Leahy, National Geographic, "Huge decline in songbirds linked to common insecticide," 12 Sep. 2019 Denver Metro Crime Stoppers contributed thousands of dollars in support of the genealogical research, DMCS president Mike Mills said. — Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post, "Investigators used familial DNA to identify suspect in 1981 murder of teen hitchhiker," 10 Sep. 2019

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