communicate

[kuh-myoo-ni-keyt]

verb (used with object)

communicated, communicating 

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)

communicated, communicating 

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. 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. 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

Other Word Forms

• communicatory adjective
• communicator noun
• noncommunicating adjective
• overcommunicate verb
• precommunicate verb
• uncommunicating adjective
• well-communicated 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

I was communicating with Hopper through his place of work, his work as a surgeon was well-documented, and his bilateral amputations were plain to see.

From BBC

“I think we’ve lost a little bit of that edge over the last couple months,” Roberts said Tuesday of Hernández, having had “numerous conversations” to communicate the same message with him personally.

From Los Angeles Times

California is physically immense, too, stretching approximately 800 miles from north to south, which makes costly advertising the only realistic way to communicate in a statewide top-of-the-ticket contest.

From Los Angeles Times

The deluge of re-released films is part of this new model, too, though one that has a better chance of communicating what moviegoers do and don’t want to see from new films in the future.

From Salon

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections denied our request to interview Gray, either by phone or in person, so the only way to communicate with him for the story was via his attorneys.

From Salon

Related Words

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