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volunteer definition

vol·un·teer (väl′ən tir′)

noun

  1. a person who chooses freely to do or offer to do something
  2. a person who chooses freely to enter naval or military service, without being compelled to do so by law
  3. Bot. a volunteer plant
  4. Law
    1. a person who chooses freely to enter into any transaction with no promise of compensation
    2. a person to whom property is transferred without valuable consideration

Etymology: earlier voluntier < obs. Fr voluntaire < L (miles)voluntarius, voluntary (soldier)

adjective

  1. composed of volunteers, as an army
  2. serving as a volunteer, usually without compensation
  3. of a volunteer or volunteers
  4. Bot. growing from seed that has fallen naturally to the ground, not planted by a person

transitive verb

to freely choose to offer or give without being asked or obliged

intransitive verb

to freely choose to enter or offer to enter into any service; enlist

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

volunteer Synonyms

volunteer

n.

enlistee, enlisted man, voluntary soldier, unpaid worker, charity worker, missionary, aide.


volunteer

v.

  1. To make a proposal

    suggest, offer, bring forward; see propose 1.

  2. To offer one's services

    come forward, enlist, sign up, submit oneself, avoid conscription, take the initiative, present oneself, offer oneself, do on one's own volition, do of one's own free will, do on one's own authority, take the initiative, take upon oneself, speak up, stand up and be counted, go in*, chip in*, do on one's own hook*, take the bull by the horns*, stand on one's own feet*, take the bit between one's teeth*, paddle one's own canoe*, take the plunge*; see also join 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

volunteer Usage Examples

Object

  • opportunity: Volunteering opportunities can be short or long term with varying levels of responsibility.

Converse of object

  • recruit: Recruiting new volunteers Your publicity should aim to: Let people know you exist.

Adjective modifier

  • trained: Running a network of trained volunteers who provide local support to members.

Modifies a noun

  • bureau: The guide is available on the volunteer bureau 's website.

Noun used with modifier

  • IRA: Farmhouses were a vital base for food and rest for IRA volunteers on active service.
volunteer usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"volunteer." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/volunteer>

APA Style

volunteer. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/volunteer

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