volunteer
a person who voluntarily offers to perform a service or other undertaking.
a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.
Military. a person who enters the service voluntarily rather than through conscription or draft, especially for special or temporary service rather than as a member of the regular or permanent army.
Law.
a person whose actions are not founded on any legal obligation so to act.
a person who steps into a matter that does not concern them, such as a person who pays the debt of another where they are neither legally nor morally bound to do so and has no interest to protect in making the payment.
Agriculture.Also volunteer plant . a plant that springs up spontaneously, without being seeded, planted, or cultivated by a person: We didn't plant any watermelons this year, but look at all the volunteers from last year's crop.
Volunteer. a native or inhabitant of Tennessee (used as a nickname).
of, relating to, or being a person who voluntarily offers to do something: a volunteer fireman.
Agriculture. growing without being seeded, planted, or cultivated by a person; springing up spontaneously: volunteer tomatoes.
to offer oneself for some service or undertaking.
to enter service or enlist voluntarily.
to offer (oneself or one's services) for some undertaking or purpose.
to give, bestow, or perform voluntarily: to volunteer a song.
to say, tell, or communicate voluntarily: to volunteer an explanation.
to promise the services of (someone) without having asked if it is something they actually can or want to do: He volunteered me to sand and paint the bottom of the boat, and I don’t have the slightest interest in sanding, painting, or boating.
Origin of volunteer
1Other words from volunteer
- pre·vol·un·teer, noun, verb
- un·vol·un·teer·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use volunteer in a sentence
I started volunteering around Atlanta with the Health Initiative and some other groups and stuff, and with HRC and everything.
How A Company’s Support of Gay Employees Helped One of Them To Come Out | | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt was because of Delta that I actually started helping out in the community, volunteering.
How A Company’s Support of Gay Employees Helped One of Them To Come Out | | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat side is volunteering extensively in his hometown of Flint, and recently, pastoring Charity United Methodist Church.
Western workers may no longer feel safe volunteering in West Africa.
Can You Treat Ebola—And Stay Safe? | Abby Haglage, Kent Sepkowitz | October 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAlan was volunteering with his Muslim friends to help the people of Syria.
We live on the top floor, said Maggie, volunteering her first remark since starting homeward.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage | Gertrude W. MorrisonLost Sister told a noble lie by volunteering the information that it was my presence that kept the girl quiet.
A Virginia Scout | Hugh PendexterSmall but highly intelligent Belgian Boy, who speaks English, insists on volunteering services.
I accept it in toto, subject to the privilege of volunteering a statement if my examination is incomplete or misleading.
The Incendiary | W. A. (William Augustine) LeahySince volunteering had come up, he had become a captain of Volunteers, and had won prizes with his rifle at Wimbledon.
Can You Forgive Her? | Anthony Trollope
British Dictionary definitions for volunteer
/ (ˌvɒlənˈtɪə) /
a person who performs or offers to perform voluntary service
(as modifier): a volunteer system; volunteer advice
a person who freely undertakes military service, esp temporary or special service
law
a person who does some act or enters into a transaction without being under any legal obligation to do so and without being promised any remuneration for his services
property law a person to whom property is transferred without his giving any valuable consideration in return, as a legatee under a will
a plant that grows from seed that has not been deliberately sown
(as modifier): a volunteer plant
to offer (oneself or one's services) for an undertaking by choice and without request or obligation
(tr) to perform, give, or communicate voluntarily: to volunteer help; to volunteer a speech
(intr) to enlist voluntarily for military service
Origin of volunteer
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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