volunteer 1 of 3

noun

Definition of volunteernext
as in enlistee

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Dissimilar Words

volunteer

2 of 3

verb

as in to donate
to make a present of trained tax consultants who volunteer their services at tax time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

volunteer

3 of 3

adjective

as in voluntary
done, made, or given with one's own free will volunteer work at the hospital

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of volunteer
Noun
Dondi Voigt Persyn, a mother of three and grandmother of four from Boerne, Texas – on a hill above the Guadalupe River about 35 miles from the disaster zone – joined as a volunteer. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 The volunteer-run organization advocates for local conservation efforts, provides education about birds and bird conservation, and organizes birdwatching events. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2026
Verb
In practice, this involves building a supportive employee culture, promoting physical activity, offering volunteering initiatives and encouraging people to look out for others and prioritize safety. — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 1 July 2026 Despite their clerical nature, an initial hearing is critical to a person’s immigration case, said Erin Moncure, who has volunteered as a court observer with the nonprofit CLUE since September. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Adjective
Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups. — Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2023 In rural America, 35% of ambulance services are all-volunteer. — Steve Hartman, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2022 See All Example Sentences for volunteer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volunteer
  1. enlistee
  2. donate
  3. voluntary
  4. give
  5. willing
  6. contribute
Noun
  • Notably, the show stars several out gay actors, including Angus O’Brien as frat-boy enlistee and Max Parker as a closeted drill sergeant.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Definition of enlistee
Verb
  • The America250 website lists nonprofit organizations, including those that focus on civic engagement, education, housing, conservation and veterans, that people can donate to.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • What is clear is that Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Kelce have donated $26 million to a slew of charities across the nation just ahead of their nuptials and America’s 250th birthday.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 July 2026
Definition of donate
Adjective
  • The reason is that the administration has shrunk the requirements for reports of immunization from states, changing the reports from mandated to voluntary.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Without control of committee gavels — and the subpoena power that comes with them — legislative inquiries from the Hill minority generally rely on the voluntary compliance from their targets to produce documents or testimony.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of voluntary
Verb
  • When this place is eventually gone — a phrase that feels truly bizarre given the environment this summer and the half-century preceding it — the lasting images will be the seas of red.
    — Sam McDowell Updated July 3, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • Officials advise the public to give bears space and not let pets bother them.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of give
Adjective
  • And until organizations are willing to ask structural questions rather than people questions, the condition will persist — well-documented, carefully measured, and entirely unresolved.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • But so far, shoppers don't appear willing to abandon their summer grilling traditions.
    — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of willing
Verb
  • Doha Madani, Chloe Melas, Brittany Kubicko, Daniel Arkin and Saba Hamedy contributed.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • Swift has built a long track record of giving across education, disaster relief, food insecurity, and music programs, often contributing quietly or stepping in quickly during moments of urgent need.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of contribute

Browse Nearby Words

voluntary
volunteer
volunteered
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Cite this Entry

“Volunteer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volunteer. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of volunteer for Spanish Speakers

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