Word family noun volunteer adjective voluntary ≠ involuntary verb volunteer adverb voluntarily ≠ involuntarily
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishvolunteervol‧un‧teer1 /ˌvɒlənˈtɪə $ ˌvɑːlənˈtɪr/ ●●○ AWL noun [countable] 1 WILLINGsomeone who does a job willingly without being paid → voluntary Most of the relief work was done by volunteers.2 someone who is willing to offer help I need some volunteers to help with the washing-up.3 PMsomeone who joins the army, navy, or air force without being forced to → conscriptExamples from the Corpus
volunteer• The duke presented certificates to the first 16 volunteers who have been trained for the scheme.• Ask a volunteer to drop one of the liquids on the waxed paper near the high end, near one side.• a volunteer fire department• I need someone to rake the yard. Any volunteers?• Bush has agreed to serve as co-chairman with Clinton at an April summit in Philadelphia to encourage volunteers to help the needy.• Another revelation: enthusiastic volunteers were not necessarily best-suited to be foster parents, either by temperament or circumstances.• The four volunteers entered the test chamber on June 12 with a limited supply of air and water.• It depends on unemployed volunteers who give much time and effort.volunteervolunteer2 ●●○ AWL verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]OFFER to offer to do something without expecting any reward, often something that other people do not want to dovolunteer to do something Helen volunteered to have Thanksgiving at her house this year.volunteer for Sidcup volunteered for guard duty. I volunteered my services as a driver.2 [transitive]OFFER to tell someone something without being asked Michael volunteered the information before I had a chance to ask.3 [intransitive]PM to offer to join the army, navy, or air force When war broke out, my father volunteered immediately.4 [transitive]SUGGEST to say that someone else will do a job even though they may not want to do itvolunteer somebody for something Mum volunteered Dave for washing-up duties.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
volunteer• Andy didn't wait to be drafted - he volunteered.• His wife, Alcestis, volunteers.• It also volunteered a fat contribution to the San Diego Host Committee, which helped raise money for the convention.• A teacher volunteers and works the staff through a brainstorming session, listing all the issues that they feel should be discussed.• Some areas have volunteer clearing agencies where people wishing to volunteer can register.• No one volunteered for night duty.• The girls did not volunteer for the job.• Jill volunteered to go with me to the hospital.• Will anyone volunteer to help me clean up this mess?• We at Downtown News hereby volunteer to print those details if Wells Fargo makes them available.volunteered ... services• Mrs V Hawkins volunteered her services and G. Espin offered to provide street maps. 4.• Hofmeyr had volunteered his services free of charge.• By nightfall, the private airboat owners who had volunteered their services were asked to go home.volunteer somebody for something• "Did they find someone to watch the kids?" "I volunteered Dad for it."Origin volunteer1 (1500-1600) French volontaire, from Latin voluntarius; → VOLUNTARY1 