participate

Participate is a verb meaning to take part in or be involved in an activity, event, or process. It can refer to contributing to a shared effort or to sharing in the outcomes of an activity. Etymology: participate derives from Latin participare, via Old French participer, and is related to the noun participation and the adjective participatory.

Usage and grammar: participate is typically intransitive and followed by a prepositional phrase such as in (participate in a competition, participate in a discussion) or with (participate with others in a project). It can also appear in more complex constructions with modifiers or subordinate clauses. The related noun forms include participation, the adjective participatory, and the agent noun participant (a person who participates). A less common variant is participator, which refers to a person who participates.

Contexts and nuance: participation is common in civic life, education, research, business, sports, and culture. The term often implies active engagement or contribution rather than mere presence. In formal or policy contexts, phrases like citizen participation or stakeholder participation are used to denote inclusive or collaborative involvement.

Examples: She participated in the conference despite the travel delay. Several countries participated in the climate negotiations. The program encourages student participation through discussions and group work.

See also: participation, participant, participatory, partake, join, take part.