donate

verb

ˈdō-ˌnāt How to pronounce donate (audio)
Definition of donatenext
as in to volunteer
to make a present of we plan to donate all the profits from the rummage sale to charity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb donate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of donate are afford, bestow, confer, give, and present. While all these words mean "to convey to another as a possession," donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

When is it sensible to use afford instead of donate?

The synonyms afford and donate are sometimes interchangeable, but afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade
a development that affords us some hope

When could bestow be used to replace donate?

While the synonyms bestow and donate are close in meaning, bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

When would confer be a good substitute for donate?

The meanings of confer and donate largely overlap; however, confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

When might give be a better fit than donate?

In some situations, the words give and donate are roughly equivalent. However, give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms
gave her a ride on a pony
give my love to your mother

Where would present be a reasonable alternative to donate?

Although the words present and donate have much in common, present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of donate In the years after its eventual closure, Jim Hull, one of the original organizers of ACT-UP/KC, donated five boxes of the organization’s historical materials to Missouri Valley Special Collections at the Kansas City Public Library. —Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 5 June 2025 Click here to donate. Broward County had the fewest students of any large school district return to campus during the 2020-21 school year, when classes were available online or in-person. —Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025 The company will also donate $50,000 to NGOs protecting the U.S. national parks. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 4 June 2025 All proceeds will be donated to the Roger Federer Foundation. —Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for donate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for donate
  1. volunteer
  2. contribute
  3. give
Verb
  • Derek Condit, author of The Natural Beekeeper's Path: Treatment-Free Practices for a Living World, volunteered to help collect the bees.
    — Escher Walcott, People.com, 31 May 2025
  • My company, Reboot Partners, will be volunteering to help advance these initiatives with governments and the private sector.
    — Dean DeBiase, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of volunteer
Verb
  • Members who are able to earn money - from selling fish, from growing vegetables - contribute regularly.
    — Viola Kosome, NPR, 1 June 2025
  • More than a dozen San Diego County residents are being accused of contributing to the damage from last year’s flooding — most of them by the city of San Diego, and now another two by an East County school district.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
Definition of contribute
Verb
  • But there are few substitutes for availability, and no player has given more to Spurs this season than Porro.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • The former monk also gave specific advice on how to hone in on what's important in life.
    — Melody Chiu, People.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of give

Browse Nearby Words

don
donate
donated
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Cite this Entry

“Donate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/donate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of donate for Spanish Speakers

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