Volunteer Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Published on March 9, 2024
Volunteer refers to a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task. e.g., She became a volunteer at the local hospital.
Table of Contents
Volunteer Definitions
A person who offers services for free.
Many volunteers help at the food bank.
To offer oneself for a service or duty without pay.
He volunteered to lead the project.
Engaging in activities by personal choice, not for financial gain.
Volunteering your skills can make a big difference.
The act of giving help willingly without being paid.
Volunteering at the shelter was rewarding.
A participant in a study who consents without coercion.
Volunteers are needed for the clinical trial.
Someone who enlists in the military without being drafted.
During the war, thousands volunteered for service.
To offer or present something voluntarily.
She volunteered her ideas during the meeting.
An organism growing wild without being planted.
Volunteer plants sprouted in the garden.
A person who expresses a willingness to undertake a service.
Volunteers were called to help with the cleanup.
To act out of one's own will without legal obligation.
They volunteered their time to teach children.
A person who performs or offers to perform a service voluntarily
An information booth staffed by volunteers.
Hospital volunteers.
A person who chooses to enter a branch of the military without being drafted or forced to do so by law.
(Law) A person who works without pay or who assumes an obligation to which that person is not a party or in which that person is not otherwise interested.
(Botany) A cultivated plant growing from self-sown or accidentally dropped seed.
Being, consisting of, or done by volunteers
Volunteer firefighters.
Volunteer tutoring.
(Botany) Growing from self-sown or accidentally dropped seed. Used of a cultivated plant or crop.
To give or offer to give voluntarily
Volunteered their services.
Volunteer to give blood.
(Informal) To compel (someone) to do something
We were volunteered to do the dishes.
To perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will.
To choose to enter military service of one's own free will.
To do charitable or helpful work without pay
Many retirees volunteer in community service and day care centers.
One who enters into, or offers themself for, any service of their own free will, especially when done without pay.
The volunteers at the nature reserve meet up ever other Sunday to help its upkeep.
(military) One who enters into military service voluntarily (but who, when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers), as opposed to a conscript.
(military) A voluntary member of the organized militia of a country, as distinguished from a regular or member of the standing army.
(legal) A person who acts out of their own will without a legal obligation, such as a donor.
A plant that grows spontaneously, without being cultivated on purpose; see volunteer plant in Wikipedia.
A native or resident of the American state of Tennessee.
(intransitive) To enlist oneself as a volunteer.
(ambitransitive) To do or offer to do something voluntarily.
To volunteer for doing the dishes
(transitive) To offer, usually unprompted.
To volunteer an explanation
To offer the services of (someone else) to do something.
My sister volunteered me to do the dishes.
To grow without human sowing or intentional cultivation.
One who enters into, or offers for, any service of his own free will.
One who enters into service voluntarily, but who, when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers; - opposed to conscript; specifically, a voluntary member of the organized militia of a country as distinguished from the standing army.
A grantee in a voluntary conveyance; one to whom a conveyance is made without valuable consideration; a party, other than a wife or child of the grantor, to whom, or for whose benefit, a voluntary conveyance is made.
Of or pertaining to a volunteer or volunteers; consisting of volunteers; voluntary; as, volunteer companies; volunteer advice.
To offer or bestow voluntarily, or without solicitation or compulsion; as, to volunteer one's services.
To enter into, or offer for, any service of one's own free will, without solicitation or compulsion; as, he volunteered in that undertaking.
(military) a person who freely enlists for service
A person who performs voluntary work
Tell voluntarily;
He volunteered the information
Agree freely;
She volunteered to drive the old lady home
I offered to help with the dishes but the hostess would not hear of it
Do volunteer work
Without payment;
The soup kitchen was run primarily by unpaid helpers
A volunteer fire department
Volunteer Snonyms
Helper
Someone who assists with tasks.
Helpers at the event ensured everything ran smoothly.
Supporter
A person who supports a cause or individual.
Many supporters volunteered for the campaign.
Contributor
A person who gives something in order to help achieve or provide something.
As a contributor to the project, he offered valuable insights.
Benefactor
Someone who provides help or support, often financial.
Benefactors volunteered donations for the new building.
Philanthropist
Someone who seeks to promote the welfare of others through generous donations.
The philanthropist volunteered both time and money to charity.
Participant
A person who takes part in something.
Participants in the study volunteered their time.
Altruist
A person showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others.
Altruists often volunteer in crisis regions.
Activist
A person who campaigns for some kind of social change.
As an activist, she volunteered in various community projects.
Donor
Someone who gives or contributes something voluntarily.
Blood donors voluntarily help save lives.
Samaritan
A charitable or helpful person.
Good Samaritans volunteered to help the homeless during the winter.
Volunteer Idioms & Phrases
Volunteer one's services
To offer to do something without being asked or paid.
He volunteered his services to the organization in need.
A willing volunteer
Someone eager to offer their help or services.
In every charity event, you'll find a willing volunteer.
Volunteer for duty
To offer oneself for a specific task, especially in a military context.
Many soldiers volunteer for duty to serve their country.
Volunteer one's expertise
To offer one's specialized skills or knowledge willingly.
Professionals often volunteer their expertise to non-profit organizations.
Step forward as a volunteer
To offer oneself as a helper.
When the call came for volunteers, she was the first to step forward.
Volunteer-led
An activity or organization primarily run by volunteers.
The after-school program is entirely volunteer-led.
Serve as a volunteer
To perform or undertake a task willingly without pay.
He served as a volunteer at the local animal shelter.
Sign up as a volunteer
To register oneself as a helper or worker for an event or organization.
Over a hundred people signed up as volunteers for the festival.
Volunteer force
A group of individuals who offer their services freely, often in a military context.
The volunteer force played a crucial role in the operation.
Volunteer spirit
The willingness or eagerness to volunteer.
The volunteer spirit in the town was inspiring.
Volunteer one's time
To offer one's time for activities or work without receiving payment.
Many retirees volunteer their time at local schools.
Make a volunteer of oneself
To offer oneself as a volunteer without any prompting.
She made a volunteer of herself during the crisis.
Volunteer appreciation
Recognition and thanks given to volunteers.
The annual volunteer appreciation event celebrates the contributions of all helpers.
Volunteer work
Work performed willingly without pay.
Volunteer work can be incredibly fulfilling.
Volunteer Example Sentences
She decided to volunteer for the weekend clean-up.
He was a volunteer in the study on sleep patterns.
Her volunteer work with children is inspiring.
Volunteer plants often appear in unexpected places.
The team was made up of volunteer firefighters.
High school students often volunteer to gain work experience.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide volunteer into syllables?
Volunteer is divided into syllables as vol-un-teer.
How is volunteer used in a sentence?
Volunteer is used to describe someone offering their services willingly and without pay.
How many syllables are in volunteer?
There are three syllables in volunteer.
What is the root word of volunteer?
The root word of volunteer is the Latin "voluntarius," meaning "voluntary."
Why is it called volunteer?
Volunteer comes from the French "voluntaire," meaning "voluntary," emphasizing actions undertaken by one's own free will.
What is a stressed syllable in volunteer?
The stressed syllable in volunteer is the first one, "vol."
What is the verb form of volunteer?
The verb form of volunteer is "volunteer," as in to offer oneself voluntarily.
What is the first form of volunteer?
The first form of volunteer is "volunteer," used as both a noun and a verb.
What is the third form of volunteer?
The third form of volunteer, in verb form, is also "volunteered."
What is the pronunciation of volunteer?
Volunteer is pronounced as /vɒl.ənˈtɪər/.
What is the opposite of volunteer?
The opposite of volunteer could be "conscript" or "compel."
Is volunteer a noun or adjective?
Volunteer is primarily a noun, but can function as an adjective when describing activities or services offered freely, e.g., volunteer work.
What is the plural form of volunteer?
The plural form is "volunteers."
Which determiner is used with volunteer?
Determiners such as "a," "the," "every," and "any" can be used with volunteer, depending on the context.
What is the second form of volunteer?
The second form of volunteer, when used as a verb, is "volunteered."
Is volunteer a collective noun?
No, volunteer is not typically used as a collective noun.
What part of speech is volunteer?
Volunteer can be both a noun and a verb.
What is another term for volunteer?
Another term for volunteer is "helper."
What is the singular form of volunteer?
The singular form is "volunteer."
Is volunteer an adverb?
No, volunteer is not an adverb.
Is volunteer a vowel or consonant?
The word "volunteer" begins with a consonant.
Is the volunteer term a metaphor?
The term volunteer can be used metaphorically to describe any effort or action taken willingly without external compulsion.
Which vowel is used before volunteer?
The article "a" is used before volunteer because it starts with a consonant sound.
Is volunteer an abstract noun?
No, volunteer as a noun refers to a concrete person who offers services willingly; it is not abstract.
Is volunteer a negative or positive word?
Volunteer is a positive word, implying willingness to help and generosity.
Is the word volunteer imperative?
Volunteer can be used in an imperative form when used as a verb, e.g., "Volunteer your time for a good cause."
Is the word “volunteer” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Volunteer can serve as a direct object, e.g., "I appreciate the volunteer."
Which preposition is used with volunteer?
Prepositions such as "for," "with," and "at" can be used with volunteer, depending on the sentence, e.g., "volunteer for a cause."
Which conjunction is used with volunteer?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used in sentences involving the word volunteer.
Is volunteer a countable noun?
Yes, volunteer is a countable noun.
Is the word volunteer Gerund?
Yes, when used as a verb, "volunteering" is the gerund form.
Which article is used with volunteer?
Both "the" (definite article) and "a" (indefinite article) can be used with volunteer, depending on the context.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
