communicate
verb
com·mu·ni·cate
kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt 
communicated; communicating
1
a
: to convey knowledge of or information about : make known
communicate a story
She communicated her ideas to the group.
b
: to reveal by clear signs
His fear communicated itself to his friends.
He communicated his dissatisfaction to the staff.
2
: to cause to pass from one to another
Some diseases are easily communicated.
3
archaic
: share
1
: to transmit information, thought, or feeling so that it is satisfactorily received or understood
two sides failing to communicate with each other
The computer communicates with peripheral equipment.
2
: to open into each other : connect
The rooms communicate.
3
: to receive Communion
Some Christians communicate in both elements, bread and wine.
Synonyms
Examples of communicate in a Sentence
He was asked to communicate the news to the rest of the people.
She communicated her ideas to the group.
The two computers are able to communicate directly with one another.
The pilot communicated with the airport just before the crash.
The couple has trouble communicating.
the challenge of getting the two groups to communicate with each other
We communicate a lot of information through body language.
He communicated his dissatisfaction to the staff.
If you're excited about the product, your enthusiasm will communicate itself to customers.
The disease is communicated through saliva.
Recent Examples on the Web
The company does not appear to have communicated with his office after November 2018, however.
—
Max Blaisdell, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024
While the spacecraft was still receiving and executing commands from Earth, the FDS was not communicating properly with a subsystem called the telemetry modulation unit (TMU).
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
Woody and his brothers, Jordan and Brett, were raised by their mother Diane in both Texas and Ohio — while their father, Charles, was in and out of prison and only communicated with his sons through infrequent letters.
—Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Social media is a great way to communicate your feedback.
—Beth Sobol, Allure, 23 Apr. 2024
But whereas many bioluminescent marine animals use their abilities to hunt, communicate, or attract mates, octocorals generally only glow when bumped—leaving the exact function of their radiance unclear.
—Byphie Jacobs, science.org, 23 Apr. 2024
In toxic dynamics where previous attempts to communicate boundaries or end the relationship have been ignored or met with aggression, falling back silently might sometimes be the only way to ensure emotional safety.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
What began as a time to meet up and smoke turned into a code to communicate without their teachers overhearing.
—Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The movie also communicates something very relatable about Jenna not liking the person she’s become, and reflecting on the choices that brought her to that point.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2024
Max Blaisdell, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024
While the spacecraft was still receiving and executing commands from Earth, the FDS was not communicating properly with a subsystem called the telemetry modulation unit (TMU).
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
Woody and his brothers, Jordan and Brett, were raised by their mother Diane in both Texas and Ohio — while their father, Charles, was in and out of prison and only communicated with his sons through infrequent letters.
—Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Social media is a great way to communicate your feedback.
—Beth Sobol, Allure, 23 Apr. 2024
But whereas many bioluminescent marine animals use their abilities to hunt, communicate, or attract mates, octocorals generally only glow when bumped—leaving the exact function of their radiance unclear.
—Byphie Jacobs, science.org, 23 Apr. 2024
In toxic dynamics where previous attempts to communicate boundaries or end the relationship have been ignored or met with aggression, falling back silently might sometimes be the only way to ensure emotional safety.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
What began as a time to meet up and smoke turned into a code to communicate without their teachers overhearing.
—Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The movie also communicates something very relatable about Jenna not liking the person she’s become, and reflecting on the choices that brought her to that point.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'communicate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near communicate
Cite this Entry
“Communicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communicate. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
communicate
verb
com·mu·ni·cate
kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt
communicated; communicating
1
a
: to make known
communicate the news
b
: to pass from one to another : transmit
communicate a disease
2
: to transmit information, thought, or feeling so that it is satisfactorily received or understood
the pilot communicated with the airport
3
: to open into each other : connect
the rooms communicate
Medical Definition
communicate
transitive verb
com·mu·ni·cate
kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt
communicated; communicating
: to cause to pass from one to another
some diseases are easily communicated
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