Meaning & use

contribute

verb·Everyday

To give something, such as money, time, or ideas, as part of a shared effort or cause.

See it in a sentence

Each team member contributed a section to the final report.

Poor sleep can contribute to difficulty concentrating during the day.

A note on using this word

Contribute often pairs with 'to,' as in 'contribute to a cause' or 'contribute to a problem,' the latter meaning to be a partial cause.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

withhold

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “contribute”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.