participate

1 of 2

verb

par·​tic·​i·​pate pär-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt 

pər-

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

pär-ˈti-sə-ˌpā-tər 

pər-

noun

participator

2 of 2

noun

par·​tic·​i·​pa·​tor -ātə(r) 

-ātə-

plural -s

: participant

scenes in which she had been such an important participator

—J. D. Beresford

an observer rather than a participator

—W. E. Collin

Synonyms of participate

Verb

• share
• know

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of participate in a Sentence

Verb

Most people joined the game, but a few chose not to participate.

eager to participate in the city's cultural life

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Local governments sign up to participate and submit their tonnage needs to CMS rather than running their own separate bidding processes. — Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026

The district says two of the students qualified to participate in the National Championships in Austin, Texas. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Wide receiver Rashee Rice and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed took a step forward on Day 6, participating in 7-on-7 drills after being limited to warmups and rehab earlier in camp, Sweeney observed. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026

Cornerback Juju Brents, linebacker Tyrel Dodson and receiver Chris Bell are participating only in individual drills. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin participatus, past participle of participare, from particip-, particeps participant, from part-, pars part + capere to take — more at heave entry 1

Noun

Late Latin participator, from Latin participatus (past participle of participare) + -or

First Known Use

Verb

1531, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for participate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

participate

verb

par·​tic·​i·​pate pər-ˈtis-ə-ˌpāt 

pär-

participated; participating

: to take part or have a share in something in common with others

participate in sports

participation

-ˌtis-ə-ˈpā-shən

noun

participator

-ˈtis-ə-ˌpāt-ər 

noun