to offer to do something willingly and without being asked
example
After the disaster it the country, many doctors from all around the world started to volunteer to provide service for the injured.
synonyms
offersuggestcome forward
word origin — late 16th century (as a noun, with military reference): from French volontaire ‘voluntary’. The change in the ending was due to association with -eer
volunteer, reward, concentrate, complicate, simplify: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from Upper-Intermediate set 77. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
volunteer · verb/ˌvɑlənˈtɪr/
to offer to do something willingly and without being asked
After the disaster it the country, many doctors from all around the world started to volunteer to provide service for the injured.
Synonyms: offer, suggest, come forward
Origin: late 16th century (as a noun, with military reference): from French volontaire ‘voluntary’. The change in the ending was due to association with -eer
reward · verb/rəˈwɔrd/
to give someone something in recognition of effort or achievement
The Prime Minister wanted to reward the health care workers with a bonus salary due to their hard work during the pandemic.
Synonyms: award, repay, honor
Origin: Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, variant of Old French reguard ‘regard, heed’, also an early sense of the English word
concentrate · verb/ˈkɑnsənˌtreɪt/
to focus your attention on something
Students find it difficult to concentrate on the lesson when they are not involved in learning but passively listen.
Synonyms: focus, think about
Origin: mid 17th century (in the sense ‘bring towards a center’): Latinized form of concenter, or from French concentrer ‘to concentrate’. concentrate dates from the early 20th century
complicate · verb/ˈkɑmpləˌkeɪt/
to make something complex or difficult
If the new wife also attends the party as a guest, it will only complicate the situation for the kids further.
Synonyms: perplex, confuse, convolute
Origin: early 17th century (in the sense ‘combine, entangle, intertwine’): from Latin complicat- ‘folded together’, from the verb complicare, from com- ‘together’ + plicare ‘to fold’
simplify · verb/ˈsɪmpləˌfaɪ/
to make something easy or simple
The government asked the committee to simplify its tax system so that more expats would like to join the workforce in the country.
Synonyms: clarify, make easy, explain
Origin: early 17th century: from French simplifier, from simple (see simple)