participate

verb par·tic·i·pate \ pär-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt , pər- \

Definition of participate

participated; participating

transitive verb

archaic :partake

intransitive verb

1 :to possess some of the attributes of a person, thing, or quality

the individual man participates in the ideal man
—Frank Thilly

2 a :to take part

always participates in class discussions

b :to have a part or share in something

Your mother participates in this ambition …
—Edith Wharton

—

participator

play \pär-ˈti-sə-ˌpā-tər, pər-\ noun

See participate defined for English-language learners

See participate defined for kids

Examples of participate in a Sentence

Most people joined the game, but a few chose not to participate.
eager to participate in the city's cultural life

Recent Examples of participate from the Web

American surveillance plans and a team of Navy SEALs are also participating.

— chicagotribune.com, "NATO, Russian troops rattle swords along hundreds of miles of borderland," 19 July 2017
Participating restaurants will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to The Healing Place, a recovery program for families in the community dealing with addiction.

— taylor m. riley, The Courier-Journal, "These Louisville restaurants are trying to '86 Addiction' by giving back," 18 July 2017
What Comic-Con demanded was a cap on rate increases for the hotels that participate in a discounted room block for the convention.

— lori weisberg, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Who is winning during Comic-Con: Airbnb or hotels?," 17 July 2017
Trevon Burrow, 17, participated in Camp Metrotown at St. Thomas University, discussing subjects like race, sexuality, and gender with other students from across Miami-Dade.

— by tyrone lomax jr., miamiherald, "At this camp, bonds build over social injustice, not bonfires," 14 July 2017
Though more girls than boys participate, that’s changing as the program expands.

— abigail jones, MSNBC Newsweek, "The Period Movement: Meet the Men Fighting to Stop Menstruation-Shaming in the Developing World," 12 July 2017
Rather, the administration expects Medicaid enrollment to drop as people transition to employer health plans or choose not to participate in requirements such as work or volunteering.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "The Grim Future of Medicaid Is Here!," 10 July 2017
Clifford Steward, a bellman at the Hampton Inn and Suites Columbus-Downtown in Ohio, participated in the program.

— michael t. luongo, New York Times, "Hotels Train Workers in the Personal Touch," 10 July 2017
Thomas had agreed to participate in a neighborhood meeting to discuss the project's pro's and con's.

— john sharp, AL.com, "Dunkin' Donuts project thwarted in Alabama neighborhood where Krispy Kreme once ruled," 10 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of participate

Latin participatus, past participle of participare, from particip-, particeps participant, from part-, pars part + capere to take — more at heave

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1531

See Words from the same year

participate Synonyms

Synonyms

partake, share

Related Words

endure, experience, feel, know, see, taste, undergo; encounter, meet; accept, receive

Synonym Discussion of participate

share, participate, partake mean to have, get, or use in common with another or others. share usually implies that one as the original holder grants to another the partial use, enjoyment, or possession of a thing.

- shared my toys with the others

participate implies a having or taking part in an undertaking, activity, or discussion.

- participated in sports

partake implies accepting or acquiring a share especially of food or drink.

- partook freely of the refreshments

PARTICIPATE Defined for English Language Learners

participate

verb

Definition of participate for English Language Learners

: to be involved with others in doing something : to take part in an activity or event with others

PARTICIPATE Defined for Kids

participate

verb par·tic·i·pate \ pər-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt , pär- \

Definition of participate for Students

participated; participating

:to join with others in doing something

Word Root of participate

The Latin word pars, meaning “part,” and its form partis give us the root part. Words from the Latin pars have something to do with a part, section, or portion. To participate is to take part in some activity. Anything partial involves only part of something. A particle is a tiny bit or portion of something. It is easy to see that part itself also comes directly from pars in both form and meaning.