contribute
verb OPAL W
/kənˈtrɪbjuːt/, /ˈkɒntrɪbjuːt/
/kənˈtrɪbjuːt/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they contribute | /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/, /ˈkɒntrɪbjuːt/ /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ |
| he / she / it contributes | /kənˈtrɪbjuːts/, /ˈkɒntrɪbjuːts/ /kənˈtrɪbjuːts/ |
| past simple contributed | /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/, /ˈkɒntrɪbjuːtɪd/ /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/ |
| past participle contributed | /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/, /ˈkɒntrɪbjuːtɪd/ /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/ |
| -ing form contributing | /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ/, /ˈkɒntrɪbjuːtɪŋ/ /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to give something, especially money or goods, to help achieve or provide something
- Do you wish to contribute?
- contribute to/towards something Would you like to contribute to our collection?
- to contribute to your pension
- contribute something Check with your financial planner to make sure that you are contributing the correct amounts.
- contribute something to/towards something We contributed £5 000 to the earthquake fund.
Extra Examples- I would like to contribute to the church restoration fund.
- Many people contributed generously to the appeal.
- The company contributed $50 000 towards training costs.
- a situation where husband and wife contribute equally to the family budget
- The writer personally contributed £5 000 to the earthquake fund.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- enormously
- generously
- greatly
- …
- be asked to
- be encouraged to
- to
- towards/toward
- have little, a lot, etc. to contribute (to something)
- [intransitive] to be one of the causes of something
- Human error may have been a contributing factor.
- contribute to something It is well known that UV radiation contributes to the development of skin cancer.
- Investment in transport contributes to overall economic growth.
- Medical negligence was said to have contributed to her death.
- England fans are contributing hugely to the success of this event.
- US policy has contributed to the problem.
- Several factors may be contributing to the fall in the number of applicants.
Language Bank causecauseX causes Y- Childhood obesity can cause/lead to long-term health problems.
- Changes in lifestyle and diet over the last twenty years have caused/led to/resulted in a sharp increase in childhood obesity.
- Several factors, including changes in diet and lifestyle, have contributed to the increase in childhood obesity.
- Research suggests that fast food and soft drinks directly contribute to childhood obesity.
- Genetics, lifestyle and diet are all important factors in cases of childhood obesity.
- Even small changes in lifestyle and diet can bring about significant weight loss.
Extra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effectb2- Several factors might contribute to the development of the disease.
- These images could potentially contribute to the development of eating disorders.
- Unemployment contributes directly to homelessness.
- countries that contribute disproportionately to global warming
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- greatly
- importantly
- largely
- …
- to
- [intransitive, transitive] to increase, improve or add to something
- contribute to something Immigrants have contributed to British culture in many ways.
- Parental involvement contributes significantly to children's learning.
- Hall's work contributed greatly to our knowledge of the disease.
- contribute something to something This book contributes little to our understanding of the subject.
Extra Examples- His research has contributed enormously to our understanding of this disease.
- people who want to contribute positively to their communities
- [intransitive, transitive] to write things for a newspaper, book, website, etc. or a radio or television programme; to speak during a meeting or conversation, especially to give your opinion
- The blog now has about 20 people contributing regularly.
- a contributing editor
- contribute to something We hope everyone will contribute to the discussion.
- Associated Press contributed to this report.
- contribute something He contributed a piece on Canadian law.
- contribute something to something She contributed a number of articles to the magazine.
Extra ExamplesTopics TV, radio and newsb2- He contributes regularly to the magazine ‘New Scientist’.
- Students are encouraged to contribute articles to the university magazine.
- a talented photographer who contributed regularly to ‘The Face’
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- regularly
- to
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Latin contribut- ‘brought together, added’, from the verb contribuere, from con- ‘with’ + tribuere ‘bestow’.