communicate
kuh-MYOO-nih-kayt
Communicate (verb) means to share information or ideas with someone, whether by speaking, writing, or gesture. Example: “Deaf students can communicate with their teacher through sign language.”
verb
1
To share information or ideas with someone, whether by speaking, writing, or gesture.
"Deaf students can communicate with their teacher through sign language."
"Good managers communicate clearly with their teams."
"The two departments rarely communicate with each other."
2
To pass something, such as a disease or feeling, from one person or thing to another.
"Yawning can communicate itself from one person to the whole room."
"The nervous mother communicated her worry to the children without saying a word."
"The virus can be communicated through close contact."
How to use communicate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pass on information, ideas, or feelings to someone else.
Common pairings
communicate effectively
communicate with
communicate a message
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- communicates
- Past tense
- communicated
- Comparative
- more communicate
- Superlative
- most communicate
- Archaic forms
- communicatest, communicatedst, communicateth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Deaf students can _____ with their teacher through sign language.
Etymology
From Latin communicare ("to share, make common"), from communis ("common").
Synonyms
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transmit
impart
relay
disclose
correspond
get across
articulate
common
convey
make known
express
outspeak
Antonyms
excommunicate
Related words
Rhymes for communicate
See all rhymes for communicate →Frequently asked questions
What does “communicate” mean?
The word “communicate” means to share information or ideas with someone, whether by speaking, writing, or gesture. In plain terms, to pass on information, ideas, or feelings to someone else.
How do you pronounce “communicate”?
“Communicate” is pronounced kuh-MYOO-nih-kayt (/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “communicate” in a sentence?
Here is “communicate” used in a sentence: “Good managers communicate clearly with their teams.”
What is another word for “communicate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “communicate” include articulate, common, convey, make known, express and outspeak.
What part of speech is “communicate”?
“Communicate” is a verb.
Where does the word “communicate” come from?
The word “communicate” comes from Latin. From Latin communicare ("to share, make common"), from communis ("common").
Is “communicate” a common word?
“Communicate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “communicate” have?
“Communicate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to share information or ideas with someone, whether by speaking, writing, or gesture.
What is the difference between communicate and convey?
To communicate is to share information or ideas with someone by any means, and it often implies a two-way exchange. To convey is more one-directional, meaning simply to carry a message or feeling across to someone, without necessarily expecting a response.
Do you say "communicate with" or "communicate to"?
The standard phrasing is "communicate with" someone, which stresses the two-way sharing of information. "Communicate something to someone" is also correct when you are passing on a specific message or idea in one direction.
Can communicate mean to spread a disease?
Yes. Besides sharing information, communicate can mean to pass something such as a disease or feeling from one person or thing to another. This sense is more formal, as in "the illness is easily communicated."
What is the difference between communicate and inform?
To inform is specifically to give someone facts or news, a one-way action. To communicate is broader, covering any sharing of information or ideas by speaking, writing, or gesture, and often suggesting mutual exchange rather than just delivering facts.
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