contributive

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•trib•ute /kənˈtrɪbyut/   v., -ut•ed, -ut•ing. 

1. to give (money, etc.) with others, as to a common fund: [no object]
   Can you contribute toward the present we're getting him?
   [~ + object]
   What can you contribute to help the poor?
2. to provide (an article, etc.) for publication: [no object]
   Our editor contributes regularly to that magazine.
   [~ + object]
   My wife contributes poetry to that journal.

Idioms

3. Idioms contribute to, [~ + to + object] to be an important factor in; lead to:
   asserted that smoking contributes to cancer.

con•trib•u•tive, adj. 
con•trib•u•tive•ly, adv. 
con•trib•u•tor, n. [countable]
con•trib•u•to•ry /kənˈtrɪbyəˌtɔri/  adj. [before a noun]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•trib•ute  (kən trib′yo̅o̅t), v., -ut•ed, -ut•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to give (money, time, knowledge, assistance, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc., as for charitable purposes.
2. to furnish (an original written work, drawing, etc.) for publication:
   to contribute stories to a magazine.

v.i. 

3. to give (money, food, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc.:
   He contributes to many charities.
4. to furnish works for publication:
   He contributed to many magazines.
5. Idioms contribute to, to be an important factor in;
   help to cause:
   A sudden downpour contributed to the traffic jam.

• Latin contribūtus past participle of contribuēre to bring together. See con-, tribute
• 1520–30

con•trib′ut•a•ble, adj. 
con•trib′u•tive, adj. 
con•trib′u•tive•ly, adv. 
con•trib′u•tive•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. provide, furnish, donate.