contribute

The word "contribute" is a verb that means to give help or to provide effort in the success of something:

• Angela contributed food and money to a homeless shelter last year.
• How much did you contribute to charity last year?
• Tom’s hard work is contributing to the success of the company that he works for.
• Students who contribute to classroom discussion make the class more interesting for everyone.
• The burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and climate change.

As a noun, this word becomes "contribution."

• Angela made a contribution of food and money to a homeless shelter.
• How much of a contribution did you make?
• Tom’s contribution to the success of the company has not gone unnoticed.
• Students’ contributions to classroom discussion make the class more interesting.
• Over ninety percent of scientists worldwide believe that the increased contribution of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere will create permanent damage to our planet.

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First published on May 16, 2013. Updated on May 3, 2017.