donate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "donate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of giving something, typically money or goods, to a charitable organization or cause. Example: "I decided to donate to the local food bank to help those in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In an open letter, FFA chairman Frank Lowy said the donation to Concacaf was a "compromise," with Australia initially asked to donate $4m to the organisation.

The Guardian - Sport

In a meeting early in 2011, McKay told the inquiry Tinkler came to her with an offer: "Towards the end of the meeting, he was saying how difficult it was going to be for me to win the state election, and how difficult [independent candidate] John Tate was going to be to beat … And then there was an offer to donate to my campaign.

The Guardian

And he said, 'I have hundreds of employees and I can get around the rules that way.' "He would use his money to give to his employees to donate to my campaign, so that he as a developer wasn't donating to my campaign.

The Guardian

Mr Saïd and Mr Sherwood do not donate personally.

The Guardian

Twenty of Mora's "actor friends" were asked to donate a weekend to the experiment.

The Guardian - Film

They would have preferred to donate the embryos to science, but at the time, embryonic stem cell research was banned, so that choice was off the table.

The Guardian

"There's no known animal out there who has set up an Oxfam charity so other members of their species could donate," Platt says.

The Guardian

Catholic schools that participate are being asked not to donate to the ALS Association because it has a study under way using embryonic stem cell research, which is thought to violate teaching on abortion.

The Guardian

If we needed $10,000, a few Syrians in Romania would donate something like $1,500 each, and we'd buy equipment and drive to Syria.

The Guardian

"The hospital have told me that if my mother-in-law isn't allowed to come to the UK to donate her kidney I'll have to go on a waiting list and I don't know when a match will come up for me.

The Guardian

"So many people have contacted us from outside Iran because they want to donate too but currently there is no way for them to transfer their money to us".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use strong verbs and concrete language to describe the impact of donations.

Common error

Avoid passive constructions that obscure who is donating. Instead of "Donations were made," write "People donated."

Linguistic Context

The verb "donate" functions primarily as a transitive verb, indicating an action of giving or contributing something, typically money or goods, to a cause or organization. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable nature. The examples show the action of giving to a specific recipient.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "donate" is a common and grammatically correct term used to describe the act of giving, typically money or goods, to a cause or organization. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English. As demonstrated by the examples, it frequently appears in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. When using "donate", be specific about the recipient and avoid passive voice to clearly communicate the act of giving. Related terms include "contribute", "give", and "offer", each carrying slightly different nuances. By following these guidelines, writers can effectively use "donate" to convey generosity and support for a cause.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Contribute

Refers to giving something, often money or resources, to a common fund or cause.

Gift

To give something as a present or without expectation of return.

Give

A general term for transferring possession of something to someone else without expecting payment.

Grant

Suggests a formal or official provision of something, such as money or rights.

Sponsor

To provide funds or support for an event or cause.

Bestow

Implies conferring something as a gift or honor.

Subsidize

To support an organization or activity financially.

Hand over

To relinquish control or possession of something.

Provide

To make something available or furnish something.

Supply

To furnish or provide something that is needed.

FAQs

How do I use the word "donate" in a sentence?

The word "donate" is used to describe the act of giving something, typically money or goods, to a person or organization, for example: "I decided to "donate" my old clothes to charity."

What's a good substitute for the word "donate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "contribute", "give", or "offer".

Which is correct: "donate to" or "donate for"?

The correct preposition to use with "donate" is "to". For example: "I want to "donate" to the local animal shelter." Using "for" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What is the difference between "donate" and "dedicate"?

"Donate" refers specifically to giving money or goods, while "dedicate" means to commit something, like time or effort, to a particular purpose. For example, you can "donate" money to a cause, or you can dedicate your time to volunteering.