volunteer

verb

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

Synonyms of volunteer

• donate
• give
• contribute

Examples of volunteer in a Sentence

Our son volunteered for military service.

He would not volunteer any information about her whereabouts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Vote here The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2026

The creation of Soccer KC When Shorman lost his job in 2017 and spent time volunteering in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the idea was born. —Zuri Primos june 8, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026

For the past 12 years, Gentry has volunteered with her family at the Saint Elizabeth soup-and-sandwich lines for the homeless. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 June 2026

Currently, Dunn volunteers for IMA full time. —Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1709, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for volunteer

• auctioneer
• bandelier
• belvedere
• bombardier
• brigadier
• buccaneer
• cavalier
• chandelier
• chanticleer
• chevalier
• commandeer
• disappear

Kids Definition

volunteer

1 of 3 noun

vol·​un·​teer ˌväl-ən-ˈti(ə)r 

: a person who volunteers for a service

volunteer

2 of 3 adjective

: being, consisting of, or engaged in by volunteers

a volunteer fire department

volunteer activities

volunteer

3 of 3 verb

1

: to offer voluntarily

volunteered my services

2

: to offer oneself as a volunteer

volunteered to do the job

Legal Definition

volunteer

noun

vol·​un·​teer ˌvä-lən-ˈtir 

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