volunteer
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.someone who does a job or helps others because they want to, without being paid.
n.a person who performs a service willingly and without financial compensation.
Simple“The local library relies on volunteers to help organize the books every weekend.”
In context“The charity is seeking volunteers to assist with the distribution of emergency supplies in the affected regions.”
Synonymshelperunpaid workerAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who joins the army because they want to, not because the law forces them to.
n.an individual who enters military service of their own volition rather than through conscription.
Simple“He joined the army as a volunteer before the draft even started.”
In context“Historically, the regiment was composed entirely of volunteers who provided their own equipment and horses.”
SynonymsenlisteeAntonymsconscriptdraftee - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a plant that grows on its own without a person planting it there.
n.a plant that grows spontaneously in a garden or field from self-sown seed rather than being intentionally cultivated.
Simple“That tomato plant in the middle of the path is just a volunteer from last year.”
In context“The farmer decided to leave the volunteer sunflowers growing among the soy crops as they didn't interfere with the harvest.”
Synonymsself sown plantAntonymscropcultivar - 04 B1 Intermediate
v.to offer to do something without being asked or forced.
v.to offer oneself or one's services for a task or mission spontaneously.
Simple“I decided to volunteer for the clean-up crew after the school festival.”
In context“Several staff members volunteered to work through the weekend to ensure the project met its Monday deadline.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to give information or an opinion without being asked for it.
v.to provide information, an excuse, or an idea unprompted.
Simple“She volunteered the information about the missing keys before the manager even asked.”
In context“During the interview, the candidate volunteered several details about his previous experience that weren't included in his CV.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to suggest that someone else should do a task, often without asking them first.
v.to nominate another person for a task or duty, typically in an informal or humorous context.
Simple“My brother volunteered me to drive everyone to the airport at 4:00 AM.”
In context“The department head jokingly volunteered his deputy to lead the committee, much to the latter's surprise.”
Borrowed from Middle French voluntaire, from Latin voluntārius (“willing, voluntary”); or from voluntary + -eer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.