contact
KON-takt
Contact (noun) means Physical touching, or close communication between people. Example: “The nurse kept physical contact with the patient to a minimum.”
noun
1
Physical touching, or close communication between people.
"The nurse kept physical contact with the patient to a minimum."
"Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick."
"The two countries have had little contact in recent years."
2
A person you know and can reach for help, information, or business.
"She has a good contact at the newspaper who can get the story published."
"My uncle is a useful contact if you want work in construction."
"Building a network of contacts helped him find a job quickly."
verb
1
To get in touch with someone.
"I'll contact the landlord tomorrow morning about the leaking tap."
"You can contact the helpline by phone or email at any time."
"Please contact us if you have any questions."
How to use contact
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTouching, communicating with, or a person you can reach out to.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
contact information
make contact
lose contact
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Word forms
- Plural
- contacts
- Third person singular
- contacts
- Past tense
- contacted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse kept physical _____ with the patient to a minimum.
Etymology
From Latin contactus, "a touching," from contingere, "to touch on all sides."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “contact” mean?
The word “contact” means physical touching, or close communication between people. In plain terms, touching, communicating with, or a person you can reach out to.
How do you pronounce “contact”?
“Contact” is pronounced KON-takt (/ˈkɑntækt/ in IPA).
How do you use “contact” in a sentence?
Here is “contact” used in a sentence: “Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.”
What part of speech is “contact”?
Depending on how it is used, “contact” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “contact” come from?
The word “contact” comes from Latin. From Latin contactus, "a touching," from contingere, "to touch on all sides.".
Is “contact” a common word?
“Contact” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “contact” have?
“Contact” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: physical touching, or close communication between people.
What is the difference between contact and communication?
Contact is the broader idea of being in touch or connected with someone, including physical touch. Communication is more specific: the actual exchange of information, thoughts, or messages. You can be in contact with someone without communicating much, but any real communication means you are in contact. One is connection; the other is exchange.
What are the types of contact?
Contact broadly falls into two kinds. Physical contact means actual touch between people or objects, such as a handshake. Social or communicative contact means keeping in touch through conversation, calls, or messages. There is also eye contact — meeting someone's gaze — and, in sport, contact where players physically collide.
What is an example of contact in a sentence?
You might say, 'I've lost contact with my old school friends,' meaning you no longer keep in touch. Other examples include 'avoid contact with the wet paint' or 'please leave your contact details.' In each, contact refers either to physical touch or to communication and connection between people.
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