donate

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verb do·nate \ ˈdō-ˌnāt , dō-ˈ \

Definition of donate

donated; donating

transitive verb

1 :to make a gift of; especially :to contribute to a public or charitable cause

2 :to transfer (a particle, such as an electron) to another atom or molecule

intransitive verb

:to make a donation

See donate defined for English-language learners

See donate defined for kids

Examples of donate in a Sentence

The computers were donated by local companies.
We donated our old clothes to charity.
people who donate money to political candidates
He donates some of his free time to volunteer work.
Everyone is encouraged to donate.
People are encouraged to donate blood.
Please sign this form if you would like to donate your organs when you die.
You can donate at the blood bank every eight weeks.

Recent Examples of donate from the Web

All kinds of Americans are thrown together, clutching sodden photos and donated pillows, waiting for food, information, sleep, reunions, certainty.

— Washington Post, "‘Where are we supposed to go?’," 30 Aug. 2017
Cincinnatians looking for ways to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey have a new way to donate to the community.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Want to help Harvey victims? Love football? This fundraiser is for you," 30 Aug. 2017
Aberdeen Lions Club member Mark Schlottman donated 25 walkers to go to Texas.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Donations pour in to Bel Air fire company for Harvey victims," 30 Aug. 2017
It is now displayed at the National Museum of Natural History, having been donated by Harry Winston, who legally purchased it.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The True Story of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond—And Why the British Won’t Give It Back," 30 Aug. 2017
Anyone who can donate a semitrailer as well as a truck and driver, or knows of someone who can help, is urged to contact Prehm via email at tlprehm@yahoo.com.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Naperville woman seeks truck, driver to haul disaster relief to Texas," 28 Aug. 2017
Thiel, who rose to prominence as co-founder of PayPal, reportedly advised Trump on possible FDA nominees after donating $1.25 million to his presidential campaign.

— marisa taylor, Kaiser Health News, "Offshore Human Testing Of Herpes Vaccine Stokes Debate Over U.S. Safety Rules," 28 Aug. 2017
Parks' niece Rhea McCauley instead bought it from the city for $500 and donated it to Mendoza for preservation.

— Bloomberg.com, "Rosa Parks’s House May Be Returned to U.S. From Germany," 25 Aug. 2017
For those inclined to Marie Kondo their lives, or people who just want to give to a good cause, Gizmodo reports there's a way to donate your solar eclipse glasses to charity.

— megan friedman, Country Living, "Don't Throw Away Your Solar Eclipse Glasses—Donate Them to Charity Instead," 22 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of donate

back-formation from donation

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1785

See Words from the same year

donate Synonyms

Synonyms

bestow, contribute, give, give away, present, volunteer

Related Words

chip in, kick in, pitch in, throw in; award, confer, endow, endue (or indue), render; afford, comp, furnish, provide; lavish, regale; aid, assist, benefit, help; administer, dish out, dispense, dole out, hand out, impart, issue, mete (out); extend, fork (over, out, or up), offer, pay, proffer, pungle (up), put up, tender; sacrifice

Near Antonyms

hold, keep, pocket, retain, withhold; preserve, save; advance, lend, loan; sell

Synonym Discussion of donate

give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

- give alms
- gave her a ride on a pony
- give my love to your mother

present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

- present an award

donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

- donate a piano to the orphanage

bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

- bestow unwanted advice

confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

- confer an honorary degree

afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

- the trees afford shade
- a development that affords us some hope

DONATE Defined for English Language Learners

donate

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verb

Definition of donate for English Language Learners

: to give (money, food, clothes, etc.) in order to help a person or organization
: to give (blood, a body organ, etc.) to a hospital or other medical organization so that it can be given to someone who needs it