Synonyms of donate

donate

verb

ˈdō-ˌnāt 

as in to volunteer

to make a present of

we plan to donate all the profits from the rummage sale to charity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• volunteer
• contribute
• give
• provide
• present
• bestow
• offer
• award
• furnish
• give away
• issue
• give of
• render
• afford
• pay
• benefit
• assist
• aid
• throw in
• help
• kick in
• confer
• endow
• chip in
• dispense
• pitch in
• sacrifice
• impart
• extend
• dole out
• administer
• lavish
• comp
• hand out
• dish out
• endue
• regale
• proffer
• mete (out)
• fork (over, out, or up)
• tender
• put up
• pungle (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• hold
• retain
• withhold
• save
• preserve
• sell
• lend
• pocket
• advance
• loan

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb donate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of donate are afford, bestow, confer, give, and present. While all these words mean "to convey to another as a possession," donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

When is it sensible to use afford instead of donate?

The synonyms afford and donate are sometimes interchangeable, but afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade

a development that affords us some hope

When could bestow be used to replace donate?

While the synonyms bestow and donate are close in meaning, bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

When would confer be a good substitute for donate?

The meanings of confer and donate largely overlap; however, confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

When might give be a better fit than donate?

In some situations, the words give and donate are roughly equivalent. However, give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms

gave her a ride on a pony

give my love to your mother

Where would present be a reasonable alternative to donate?

Although the words present and donate have much in common, present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of donate

Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation has donated a portion of the proceeds to help finance Register internships. —Des Moines Register, 29 Mar. 2026

Mayor John Laesch said that, although discussions are still in their early stages, the property owner has seemed interested in working with the city or a nonprofit to get the sign lit back up, and also possibly donating the sign to the city. —R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

In 2000, voters approved Proposition 34, which limited how much a person or group could donate to a campaign to under $3,000 — since raised to $5,900 — but allowed state political parties and their county satellites to raise and give virtually unlimited amounts. —Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 29 Mar. 2026

Actors and rock stars from the counterculture scene—including the band Jefferson Airplane—started donating money and cars to the cause. —Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026