noun
volunteer
voln-TEER
noun
1
Someone who offers to do a task, often unpaid, without being forced to.
"The shelter relies almost entirely on volunteers."
"She works as a volunteer at the local hospital on weekends."
verb
1
To offer to do something without being asked or paid.
"He volunteered to stay late and finish the report."
"Nobody volunteered for the extra shift, so the manager assigned it."
How to Use Volunteer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who offers to help freely, or the act of offering to do something unpaid.
Common pairings
volunteer your time
volunteer for duty
become a volunteer
Word Forms
volunteered past tense, volunteers plural, volunteers singular
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The shelter relies almost entirely on _____.
Etymology
From French voluntaire, from Latin voluntarius, "willing" — originally used specifically for soldiers who chose to serve rather than being conscripted.