WordGarden.iodonate
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /dəʊnˈeɪt/
US
- /ˈdoʊˌneɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to give money, goods, or help to a person, charity, or cause
to provide blood, an organ, or tissue for medical use
Beyond the definition
To donate means to give something, usually money, goods, or time, to help other people or support a cause. You might give old clothes to a charity, blood at a blood drive, or money to a group you believe in. It is about sharing what you have to help someone else. Think of a community bake sale where you give a homemade cake to help raise money for a good cause.
This is not only about money or things. You can also donate your time by volunteering at a local soup kitchen or animal shelter. People often do this because they care and want to help make life better for others. For example, a large charity or foundation may give money to health, education, or relief work.
To donate means to voluntarily give something—typically money, goods, services, or time—to a person or organization, usually for charitable purposes. It's more than just giving; it implies a selfless act of generosity and support. For example: "She donates regularly to the animal shelter," or "The company donated supplies to the disaster relief effort."
Donating can take many forms. You might donate blood to help save lives, food to a local food bank, or gently used clothing to those in need. It's also common to donate money to organizations working on causes you care about, such as environmental protection, medical research, or education.
Beyond material donations, people often donate their time and skills through volunteering. This could involve tutoring children, serving meals at a homeless shelter, or offering professional expertise to a non-profit organization.
The word "donate" comes from the Latin word donare, meaning "to give as a gift." It carries a positive connotation of kindness, compassion, and social responsibility. Many organizations rely heavily on donations to continue their important work, making the act of donating a vital part of many communities. Whether it's a small contribution or a significant commitment, to donate is to share your resources and help build a better world for everyone.
Examples
- 1
Disaster relief
Many people donated money after the earthquake.
- 2
Regular giving
She donates a small amount to the local food bank every month.
- Patterndonate to + organization
give something to that group
- 3
Clothing donations
We donated our old clothes to a shelter.
- 4
Blood donation
He decided to donate blood for the first time.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
School support
The company donated laptops to the village school.
- 6
Library donation
Her family donated her books to the library after she retired.
- 7
Medical study
Some people choose to donate their bodies to science.
- Phrasedonate your body to science
allow your body to be used for medical study after death
- 8
Online giving
If you can't come to the event, you can still donate online.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- donateverb
Forms
- donatedpast tenseverb
- donating-ing formverb
- donatesverb