participate

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

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

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

In Aurora about 200 girls have participated in the Project Opportunity program, according to Emma Eschenfeldt, director of Alternative Programs for the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.

— cathy janek, Aurora Beacon-News, "Program helps at-risk Aurora girls get involved in Scouting," 7 Apr. 2018
Area middle school, high school and college students participated in the STEM Challenge hosted by the University of Houston Clear Lake.

— kirk sides, Houston Chronicle, "Students solve math, science and technology problems at STEM Challenge," 7 Apr. 2018
Bazley participated in the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team minicamp in October.

— dave clark, Cincinnati.com, "Bazley: 'It's not that I look down on college basketball'," 6 Apr. 2018
Nearly 40 Ohio Wesleyan students participated on five Interfaith Service teams.

— 'sam' boyer/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "This lunch included a really colorful encounter: Whit & Whimsey," 6 Apr. 2018
As for Made in China 2025, Chinese officials say the plan is only guidance, not a government directive — and that foreign companies are free to participate, too.

— keith bradsher, New York Times, "U.S. and China Play Chicken on Trade, and Neither Swerves," 6 Apr. 2018
Around 30,000 Guard members eventually participated, according to a 2008 National Guard analysis, including more than 1,000 each from Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

— CBS News, "Governors could be powerless to deny Trump troop request," 6 Apr. 2018
That tournament will be used to qualify teams for the 2020 Tokyo Games and NBA players will participate.

— mike hart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bucks star Khris Middleton is in U.S. Olympic basketball team mix," 6 Apr. 2018
The camps are open to girls in grades 4-6, and high school and college students can participate as volunteer leaders.

— elaine rooker jack, The Courier-Journal, "Manual junior is challenging gender stereotypes with STEM You Can! summer camp for girls," 6 Apr. 2018

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;

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.