Definition

Noun 1. Something given to a common fund or effort: An amount of money, time, or effort that is provided by a person or group to help achieve a shared goal, especially for a charity or cause. 2. A part in bringing about a result: The role or influence a person or thing has in causing something to happen or in making something successful. 3. A piece of writing submitted for publication: An article, story, or other written work that is provided for inclusion in a magazine, journal, or collection.

Examples

• Money/Effort for a Cause:
  • She made a generous contribution to the disaster relief fund.
  • His contribution of time as a volunteer was invaluable.
• Role in a Result:
  • The new software was a key contribution to the project's success.
  • Everyone's contribution is important for the team to win.
• Piece of Writing:
  • The journal published her contribution on climate change.
  • He wrote a contribution for the book of short stories.

Advanced Usage

• "Make a contribution to": To give something (money, ideas, effort) to help something.
  • He made a significant contribution to the field of medicine.
• "In contribution to": As part of one's share or effort towards something.
  • The funds were collected in contribution to the new community center.

Variants and Related Words

• Contribute (verb): To give something, such as money, help, or ideas, to achieve something together with others.
  • Many people contributed to the discussion.
• Contributor (noun): A person or thing that contributes something.
  • She is a regular contributor to the magazine.

Synonyms

• Donation: Something, especially money, given to help a person or organization.
• Input: Something such as advice, information, or effort that is put into a project or system.
• Share: A part of something that has been divided, or the part one is responsible for.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations

• Contribute to: To help to cause or bring about something.
  • Several factors contributed to the accident.
• Major/substantial/significant contribution: A very important or large contribution.
  • The research made a substantial contribution to our understanding.

Related Idioms

• Do one's bit/contribute one's share: To do one's part of what is required.
  • If everyone contributes their share, we'll finish quickly.

Noun

1. a writing for publication especially one of a collection of writings as an article or story
2. an amount of money contributed
   • he expected his contribution to be repaid with interest
3. act of giving in common with others for a common purpose especially to a charity
4. a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause
5. the part played by a person in bringing about a result
   • I am proud of my contribution in advancing the project
   • they all did their share of the work