English Reference
Verb

contribute

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US /kənˈtɹɪbjut/ UK /kˈɒntɹɪbjˌuːt/ con·trib·ute UK spelling contributed, contributes, contributing

v.to give something, like money, time, or ideas, to help a group or a project succeed. You use this when you play a part in making something happen.

v.to give or supply something in common with others; to play a significant role in bringing about a specific result. Transitive when providing a specific resource, but often used intransitively with the preposition 'to'.


SIMPLE

Many people contribute money to the local charity.

CONTEXTUAL

The lead researcher asked every team member to contribute their findings to the final report by Friday.

COMPLEX

While individual lifestyle changes are helpful, systemic policy shifts contribute far more significantly to the long-term reduction of carbon emissions across the industrial sector.

Usage

The verb is often followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating the recipient or the final result.

Pitfall
He contributed for the projectHe contributed to the project

Contribute takes the preposition 'to' when describing the goal or project being helped.

Usage contribute to improved · contributed to the deaths · contributing factors

The Almaraz plant, which contributes around seven percent of Spain's electricity production, is a key source of industry and employment in mostly rural, depopulated Extremadura.

The Local· 14 Aug 2026

Incheon’s international passenger traffic was up 6.3% year on year overall, with rising numbers of foreign visitors also contributing to the increase.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

Common in science writing


PIE word *tréyes From Latin contribūtus, perfect passive participle of contribuō (“to bring together; to unite”), from con- (“together”) + tribuō (“to bestow”), from tribus (“tribe”), derived from trēs (“three”), from Proto-Italic trēs, from Proto-Indo-European tréyes.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ine-pro *tréyes
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated