communicate
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
To share or exchange information, ideas, or feelings with someone.
To transmit or convey something non-verbally (e.g., emotion via body language); to connect or be connected (e.g., rooms that communicate).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a two-way process of transmission and reception, but can be used for one-way transmission (e.g., 'communicate the decision'). The connection sense (e.g., communicating doors) is formal/architectural.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Minor spelling preference: 'communication' and its derivatives follow standard -ise/-ize patterns.
Connotations
Similar across both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
communicate [sth] to [sb]communicate with [sb]communicate that-clausecommunicate via/through [medium]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[It] communicates volumes (non-verbally conveys a lot)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential for teamwork, client relations, and project management (e.g., 'We need to communicate the new strategy to all stakeholders').
Academic
Used in discussions of language, media, and information theory (e.g., 'The study examines how cells communicate chemically').
Everyday
Common for talking about conversations, feelings, and technology (e.g., 'We communicate mostly by text').
Technical
In IT: data transfer between systems; in medicine: transmission of disease.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Managers must communicate any timetable changes to staff promptly.
- The two gardens communicate via a small gate.
American English
- The CEO will communicate the decision via a company-wide memo.
- The infection can communicate to other parts of the body.
adverb
British English
- He nodded communicatively to show he understood.
- She gestured communicatively towards the exit.
American English
- They looked at each other communicatively.
- He pointed communicatively at the map.
adjective
British English
- She is highly communicative in team meetings.
- The brochure wasn't very communicative about the risks.
American English
- He's not very communicative in the mornings.
- We need a more communicative approach.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I communicate with my friend using a messaging app.
- Dogs communicate with their tails.
- It's important to communicate clearly when working on a group project.
- The artist's paintings communicate a feeling of peace.
- The research highlights how effectively teams communicate under pressure.
- Despite their differences, they have learned to communicate openly.
- The diplomat's subtle phrasing communicated a willingness to negotiate without making explicit concessions.
- The architecture of the building communicates the institution's values of transparency and openness.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COMMUnicate' – it's about creating a COMMUnity through sharing.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A CONDUIT (Ideas are objects sent along a channel).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'коммуницировать' in casual speech; use 'общаться' (chat, converse) for informal talking. Remember 'сообщать' is more for one-way informing.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'communicate somebody' (missing 'to' or 'with').
- Overuse in contexts where simpler words like 'say', 'tell', or 'talk' are more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'communicate' in its architectural sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While it often implies an exchange, it can be used for one-way transmission (e.g., 'The board communicated its decision').
'Inform' is specifically about giving factual information. 'Communicate' is broader, covering feelings, ideas, and non-verbal messages.
Yes, especially with 'with' (e.g., 'They communicate regularly') or to describe a general ability (e.g., 'He finds it hard to communicate').
It is very rare and not standard. Use 'communication' as a noun modifier (e.g., 'communication skills') or 'communicative'.