volunteer

noun vol·un·teer \ ˌvä-lən-ˈtir \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Examples: volunteer in a Sentence

Definition of volunteer

1 : a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service: such as

a : one who enters into military service voluntarily

b (1) : one who renders a service or takes part in a transaction while having no legal concern or interest

(2) : one who receives a conveyance or transfer of property without giving valuable consideration

2 : a volunteer plant

3 capitalized

[Volunteers of America]

: a member of a quasi-military religious and philanthropic organization founded in 1896 by Commander and Mrs. Ballington Booth

See volunteer defined for English-language learners

See volunteer defined for kids

Examples of volunteer in a Sentence

Volunteers are needed to help with the bake sale.
The school was built by volunteers.

Recent Examples of volunteer from the Web

Though, just to make sure, small volunteers were given small brushes.

— crocker stephenson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Better Angels: Tia Richardson's newest mural is one neighborhood's vision of better things to come," 5 July 2018
One metric of leadership is how many volunteers a candidate can attract to her cause.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Elaine DiMasi learns hard lessons about money and leadership in politics," 5 July 2018
Over the past 8 years, with help from volunteers, Monae transformed the lot into a lush garden with a deck for yoga practice, drawing in young and old from the neighborhood.

— heidi stevens, chicagotribune.com, "How a yoga garden nourishes the soul of a West Side block," 5 July 2018
Senior volunteers will perform a security inspection outside the home, checking doors, windows and garages to ensure they’re locked.

— alex riggins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sheriff's Department offers free home checks for residents on vacation," 5 July 2018
Eager to prove himself to his wily Mossad boss Miki (John Hurt), Ari volunteers for a dangerous job behind enemy lines, with the aim of smuggling a chemicals weapons scientist and his family out of Syria.

— stephen dalton, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Damascus Cover': Film Review," 4 July 2018
In New York, volunteers with Meals On Wheels deliver 18,000 meals every day, making a point to knock on doors, especially during extreme weather like this.

— CBS News, "Heat wave blamed for at least 3 deaths in Northeast," 4 July 2018
Voters who have not are urged to do so and the volunteers offer to take the ballots to election offices.

— jacques billeaud, azcentral, "Lawsuit filed against 2016 law that bans groups from collecting mail-in ballots," 4 July 2018
In Protestant Kallstadt, where volunteers diligently tend communal flower beds and vintners have run a cooperative for 116 years, Friedrich Trump was a popular guy.

— katrin bennhold, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump’s ancestral village abounds with his relatives. Few will admit it," 3 July 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of volunteer

obsolete French voluntaire (now volontaire), from voluntaire, adjective, voluntary, from Old French, from Latin voluntarius

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1600

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

volunteer

verb

Definition of volunteer

volunteered; volunteering; volunteers

intransitive verb

: to offer oneself as a volunteer

volunteered to host the meeting

transitive verb

: to offer or bestow voluntarily

volunteer one's services

See volunteer defined for English-language learners

Examples of volunteer in a Sentence

Our son volunteered for military service.
He would not volunteer any information about her whereabouts.

Recent Examples of volunteer from the Web

However, only about 20 percent of Florida’s seniors volunteer and share their great gifts of time and wisdom through formal volunteer opportunities.

— miamiherald, "Leigh-Ann Buchanan," 30 June 2018
Soon after connecting with the organization, the couple volunteered to foster three puppies from their rescue ranch who were too young to be adopted.

— kelly o'sullivan, Country Living, "The Humans Behind Famous Instagram Account 'Harlow and Sage' Are Part of the Sweetest Rescue Mission," 19 June 2018
Those wishing to volunteer may contact the museum at 630-584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org.

— david sharos, Aurora Beacon-News, "Volunteers dig into history at Kane County farm," 15 June 2018
There are also opportunities for businesses, schools, religious organizations and other groups to volunteer together on a project.

— hannah steinkopf-frank, RedEye Chicago, "Chicago in action: Give back to the city with these three volunteer organizations," 14 June 2018
Both volunteer their time, which amounts to about four hours per week for Harkey and double that for Estes, plus weekend travel to races that are up to five hours away, despite not having children on the team.

— tess strokes, Outside Online, "Trading Football for Fat Tires in Mississippi," 6 June 2018
If community causes are important to you, ask if the company supports days off to volunteer.

— lindsey lanquist, SELF, "17 Benefits (Other Than Salary) You Can Negotiate When You Take a Job," 1 June 2018
Every year, children of the slums who have recently turned 20 can volunteer to take part in their society’s time-honored, highly anticipated tradition: an elaborate series of physical and psychological challenges known as the Process.

— devon maloney, The Verge, "3% is the most riveting, uplifting dystopian show you’re not watching," 6 May 2018
Kushner began visiting Chowchilla as a Justice Now volunteer, and hired Martinez as a consultant on her book.

— naomi fry, The New Yorker, "Rachel Kushner’s Immersive Fiction," 23 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of volunteer

1709

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

volunteer Synonyms

Phrases

give of;

volunteer

adjective

Definition of volunteer

1 : being, consisting of, or engaged in by volunteers

a volunteer army

busy with volunteer activities

2 : growing spontaneously without direct human control or supervision especially from seeds lost from a previous crop

volunteer corn plants

See volunteer defined for English-language learners

Examples of volunteer in a Sentence

volunteer work at the hospital

Recent Examples of volunteer from the Web

Volunteer firefighters and EMTs took Marvin to a rendezvous point with the air ambulance.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "The strange day a longtime Idaho bear hunter became the prey," 14 June 2017
Volunteer jobs range from helping out in the gift shop and art gallery to giving tours and running special events or keeping an inventory of historical items that are donated.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ice cream social planned at old adobe," 31 May 2017
Volunteer background can include: attorneys, law students, and paralegals.

— nathan paige, cleveland.com, "BVU: Change the World Day volunteer opportunities, and more," 15 May 2017

First Known Use of volunteer

1649

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

volunteer Synonyms

Synonyms

freewill, self-imposed, uncoerced, unforced, volitional, voluntary, willing;

Antonyms

coerced, compelled, forced, involuntary, nonvoluntary, unwilled, will-less;

Near Antonyms

compulsory, enforced, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, ordered, required;

Related Words

discretionary, elective, optional;

impulsive, instinctive, spontaneous, unpremeditated;

conscious, deliberate, intentional, knowing, willful (or wilful);

VOLUNTEER Defined for English Language Learners

volunteer

noun

Definition of volunteer for English Language Learners

: a person who chooses to join the military
: a person who does work without getting paid to do it

volunteer

adjective

Definition of volunteer for English Language Learners

: of, relating to, or done by volunteers

volunteer

verb

Definition of volunteer for English Language Learners

: to offer to do something without being forced to or without getting paid to do it
: to choose to join the military
: to give (something) without being forced to or without getting paid for it

VOLUNTEER Defined for Kids

volunteer

noun vol·un·teer \ ˌvä-lən-ˈtir \

Definition of volunteer for Students

: a person who does something by free choice usually with no payment expected or given

Volunteers painted the town hall.

volunteer

adjective

Definition of volunteer for Students

: relating to or done by volunteers

a volunteer fire department

volunteer

verb

Definition of volunteer for Students

volunteered; volunteering

: to offer or give without being asked or forced and usually with no expectation of payment

I volunteered my services.

Tucker Mouse had volunteered to let them use the drain pipe …
—George Selden, The Cricket in Times Square

Law Dictionary

volunteer

noun vol·un·teer \ ˌvä-lən-ˈtir \

legal Definition of volunteer

1 : one that voluntarily undertakes something; especially : one who without request, obligation, or an interest pays the debt of another and is denied reimbursement from subrogation

2 : one who receives property without giving valuable consideration