participate in something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "participate in something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to taking part in an event, activity, or process. Example: "I am excited to participate in the upcoming charity event this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Participants learn, they contribute, they participate in something bigger than themselves, they help big universities do what an institution alone could never do—it's uniting and empowering.

Science Magazine

"They wanted to participate in something.

The New York Times

"This allows me to participate in something that's beautiful, a wonderful kind of activity, very spiritual".

The New York Times

In 2005, Davis was sent to Clearwater to participate in something called the Estates Project Force.

The New Yorker

"And she won't sit back and participate in something that was blatantly, patently unfair, illegal and wrong.

The New York Times

"And for us it is very difficult to participate in something that we have no control over.

The New York Times

But the 80 developmentally disabled children, teenagers and young adults also participate in something less familiar: horticultural therapy.

The New York Times

"I wonder if every doctor shouldn't have to participate in something like this every once in a while".

The New York Times - Health

"We very rarely in advertising get an opportunity to participate in something like this," said Mr. Chontos.

The New York Times

It often seems to entail a yearning to participate in something larger than oneself and is by no means limited to the political domain.

The New York Times

"If other students want to participate in something like this, they should think long and hard about it," Ms. Lorber said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to emphasize a more active and committed involvement, consider using "engage in something" instead of just "participate in something".

Common error

Ensure you're not using "participate in something" in a way that obscures who is participating. Always clearly state who is taking part in the activity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "participate in something" functions as a verb phrase, where "participate" is the main verb and "in something" acts as a prepositional phrase modifying the verb. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates taking part in or being involved in an activity, event, or process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "participate in something" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to indicate involvement in an activity, event, or process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts. The analysis of usage patterns shows that it's particularly common in news and media, but also appears frequently in science and formal business settings. When writing, ensure clarity by explicitly stating who is participating. Consider using alternatives like "take part in something" or "engage in something" for varied emphasis. Being a very frequent expression, it is important to avoid platitudes when you want to encourage someone to use it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take part in something

Replaces "participate" with "take part", emphasizing the act of joining in.

engage in something

Replaces "participate" with "engage", suggesting a more active and involved role.

be involved in something

Focuses on the state of being included or connected to an activity.

contribute to something

Highlights the aspect of adding value or making an effort towards a common goal.

get involved in something

Emphasizes the process of becoming connected or engaged.

play a role in something

Indicates having a specific function or part in an activity.

be a part of something

Highlights belonging or membership in an activity or group.

join in something

Suggests entering or becoming a member of an ongoing activity.

be active in something

Emphasizes consistent and energetic involvement.

lend a hand to something

Suggests providing assistance or support to an activity.

FAQs

How can I use "participate in something" in a sentence?

You can use "participate in something" to describe taking part in an event, activity, or process. For example, "I am excited to participate in the upcoming charity event this weekend".

What are some alternatives to "participate in something"?

You can use alternatives like "take part in something", "engage in something", or "be involved in something" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "participate in" or "participate on" something?

"Participate in" is the correct preposition to use. "Participate on" is not grammatically standard.

What's the difference between "participate in something" and "contribute to something"?

"Participate in something" means to take part in an activity, while "contribute to something" implies providing something, such as effort or resources, to help achieve a common goal. The former is about involvement, the latter about adding value.