communicate

[ kuh-myoo-ni-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, com·mu·ni·cat·ed, com·mu·ni·cat·ing.

1. to impart knowledge of; make known:

   to communicate information;

   to communicate one's happiness.

   Synonyms: reveal, disclose, announce, divulge

   Antonyms: conceal, withhold

2. to give to another; impart; transmit:

   to communicate a disease.

3. to administer the Eucharist to.
4. Archaic. to share in or partake of.

verb (used without object)

, com·mu·ni·cat·ed, com·mu·ni·cat·ing.

1. to give or interchange thoughts, feelings, information, or the like, by writing, speaking, etc.:

   They communicate with each other every day.

2. to express thoughts, feelings, or information easily or effectively.
3. to be joined or connected:

   The rooms communicated by means of a hallway.

4. to partake of the Eucharist.
5. Obsolete. to take part or participate.

communicate

/ kəˈmjuːnɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to impart (knowledge) or exchange (thoughts, feelings, or ideas) by speech, writing, gestures, etc
2. trusually foll byto to allow (a feeling, emotion, etc) to be sensed (by), willingly or unwillingly; transmit (to)

   the dog communicated his fear to the other animals

3. intr to have a sympathetic mutual understanding
4. intrusually foll bywith to make or have a connecting passage or route; connect
5. tr to transmit (a disease); infect
6. intr Christianity to receive or administer Communion

Derived Forms

• comˈmunicatory, adjective
• comˈmuniˌcator, noun

Other Words From

• noncom·muni·cating adjective
• over·com·muni·cate verb overcommunicated overcommunicating
• precom·muni·cate verb precommunicated precommunicating
• uncom·muni·cating adjective
• well-com·muni·cated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of communicate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin commūnicātus “imparted,” past participle of commūnicāre “to impart, make common,” equivalent to commūn(is) common + -icāre, verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of communicate¹

C16: from Latin commūnicāre to share, from commūnis common

Synonym Study

Communicate, impart denote giving to a person or thing a part or share of something, now usually something immaterial, as knowledge, thoughts, hopes, qualities, or properties. Communicate, the more common word, implies often an indirect or gradual transmission: to communicate information by means of letters, telegrams, etc.; to communicate one's wishes to someone else. Impart usually implies directness of action: to impart information.

Example Sentences

The researchers assumed the brain's frontal cortex, which orchestrates complex thoughts and behaviors, was somehow communicating to a brainstem region called the medulla, which controls automatic breathing.

From Science Daily

Your cells communicate with each other, enabling your different parts to function as one team.

From Science Daily

“So why — when you have this amazing megaphone and this amazing ability to communicate — why would you cheapen your show by saying things like that?”

From Los Angeles Times

Having that passion for what this piece is and loving it so much and knowing how much I want to communicate through Elphaba, that’s probably where that came from.

From Los Angeles Times

They have started that process with a group of lawyers, who are writing a report which will recommend improvements in the way universities communicate with families.

From BBC

Related Words

• advertise
• broadcast
• connect
• contact
• convey
• correspond
• disclose
• disseminate
• get across
• get through
• impart
• inform
• interact
• pass on
• publicize
• reach out
• relate
• reveal
• suggest
• tell