1
Help cause an outcome
Act as one factor producing a result.
Example
Tree cover can contribute to lower street temperatures.
contribute to
/kənˈtrɪbjuːt tuː/ · kuhn-TRIB-yoot toocause-and-effect phrase
Help cause, support, or advance an outcome without necessarily being its sole cause.
Use contribute to to signal this exact relationship between ideas: help cause, support, or advance an outcome without necessarily being its sole cause.
What contribute to Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Advance a goal
Support progress toward an intended result.
Example
Open data may contribute to more reproducible research.
3
Add to a condition
Increase the strength or extent of an existing state.
Example
Several small delays contributed to the eventual cancellation.
Use contribute to Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Tree cover can contribute to lower street temperatures.
Open data may contribute to more reproducible research.
Several small delays contributed to the eventual cancellation.
Precision Matters
Contribute to overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
contribute to
vs.Signals help cause, support, or advance an outcome without necessarily being its sole cause.
bring about
Means cause an event, condition, or change to happen.
contribute to
vs.Signals help cause, support, or advance an outcome without necessarily being its sole cause.
coincide with
Means occur at the same time as, occupy the same position as, or agree with.
contribute to
vs.Signals help cause, support, or advance an outcome without necessarily being its sole cause.
be associated with
Means be connected with something, without necessarily being caused by it.
contribute to
vs.Signals help cause, support, or advance an outcome without necessarily being its sole cause.
account for
Means to explain something or constitute a specified portion of it.
Test contribute to in Context
The trees help cause the reduction without necessarily being its only cause.
1
The additional tree cover may ___ lower summer temperatures by shading roads and releasing moisture.