con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt 
1
a
: union or junction of surfaces
Cooling begins when the lava makes contact with the air.
b
: the apparent touching or mutual tangency of the limbs of two celestial bodies or of the disk of one body with the shadow of another during an eclipse, transit, or occultation
c(1)
: the junction of two electrical conductors through which a current passes
(2)
: a special part made for such a junction
The camera's flash wasn't working because the electrical contacts needed to be cleaned.
2
a
: association, relationship
students and teachers in daily contact
b
: connection, communication
I lost contact with her years ago.
c
: an establishing of communication with someone or an observing or receiving of a significant signal from a person or object
radar contact with Mars
3
: a person serving as a go-between, messenger, connection, or source of special information
business contacts
4
: contact lens
She wears contacts more often than glasses.
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
kən-ˈtakt
contacted; contacting; contacts
: to make contact
the point at which the two surfaces contact
1
: to bring into contact
2
a
: to enter or be in contact with : join
The spark contacted the gunpowder.
b
: to get in communication with
Contact your local dealer.
Is contact a verb?: Usage Guide
The use of contact as a verb, especially in sense 2b, is accepted as standard by almost all commentators except those who write college handbooks.
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
: maintaining, involving, or activated or caused by contact
contact poisons
contact sports
contact dermatitis
Synonyms
Examples of contact in a Sentence
Noun
Physical contact between a mother and child is very important.
a disease that is spread by sexual contact
Contacts between the two leaders have been frequent in recent weeks.
I applied for a job at that law firm because I have a contact there.
Verb
For more information, contact the city's tourism office.
We were able to contact them by radio.
She contacted everyone on the list.
Adjective
Ice hockey is a contact sport.
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Leonard practiced with the Clippers last week, but Lue said the All-Star forward didn’t participate in any contact drills.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The Urgel Bourgie funeral home where Faraj’s funeral was set to take place has also been in contact with officials.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Police have asked that anyone with information about the shooting contact the department's tip line by calling (501) 680-8439 or Detective Cody Stroud by calling (501) 975-8771.
—Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 23 Apr. 2024
Limiting access physically, emotionally, mentally, and energetically is a powerful way to respond to gaslighters who require contact with you to attempt to manipulate your reality effectively.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
The statute explicitly prohibits targeting Americans for surveillance — including by indirection (i.e., targeting non-Americans only as a pretext to spy on Americans with whom the foreigners are in contact).
—The Editors, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
Bank records reviewed by investigators showed that the contact information on the account was changed to link it to Mizuhara’s phone number and an email account also connected to the interpreter.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Francesco has been ordered to have no contact with his dad or brother, and must stay at least 100 yards away from their homes, their cars and their workplaces.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors say the abductions came to light on June 13, when the 16-year-old boy’s family in the United States was contacted by his kidnappers.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2024
People who want an interpreter at the meeting, or another accommodation, can contact WisDOT project representative Doug Cain at (262) 546-5603, or Douglas.cain@dot.wi.gov.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Soon, Barber was contacted by major record labels and, for the first time, realized music was indeed also a business.
—Dan Hyman, SPIN, 24 Apr. 2024
Police asked residents to contact the Gridley Police Department School Resource Officer Ashley Carson or Officer Emma Warren at 530-846-5670.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 24 Apr. 2024
Many of the alumni Rolling Stone spoke with said that shortly after joining the group, they were contacted by the FBI, who reached out in the summer of 2022.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024
The post said that the department began an investigation and contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol to send out a Silver Alert about Betty.
—Anna Turning, NBC News, 23 Apr. 2024
Sometime that day, Milwaukee police contact the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, which was investigating the leg found in Cudahy, about Robinson being missing.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
The most common injuries in football are strains and sprains, which happen in both contact and non-contact settings, along with dislocations, fractures and concussions.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Marvin Loría came off in the 80th minute due to a non-contact leg injury, holding his hamstring.
—oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2023
The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with 4 points in 9 minutes.
—Stephen Hawkins, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2023
The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with four points in nine minutes.
—Stephen Hawkins, Chron, 11 Mar. 2023
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Dexter Williams, whose strong arm and threat as a runner had ignited Indiana’s offense near the end of this season, left Saturday’s Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue with an apparent non-contact injury to his right leg.
—Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Nov. 2022
Jeremiah Wright is still in a yellow non-contact jersey but was participating in practice.
—Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 20 Mar. 2023
Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., who was limited in Wednesday’s practice, was still wearing a red, non-contact jersey on the practice field Thursday.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2022
Noun
Can humans get bird flu? There have been a few cases of humans being infected with various strains of bird flu, usually through close contact with sick or dead animals.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Leonard practiced with the Clippers last week, but Lue said the All-Star forward didn’t participate in any contact drills.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The Urgel Bourgie funeral home where Faraj’s funeral was set to take place has also been in contact with officials.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Police have asked that anyone with information about the shooting contact the department's tip line by calling (501) 680-8439 or Detective Cody Stroud by calling (501) 975-8771.
—Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 23 Apr. 2024
Limiting access physically, emotionally, mentally, and energetically is a powerful way to respond to gaslighters who require contact with you to attempt to manipulate your reality effectively.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
The statute explicitly prohibits targeting Americans for surveillance — including by indirection (i.e., targeting non-Americans only as a pretext to spy on Americans with whom the foreigners are in contact).
—The Editors, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
Bank records reviewed by investigators showed that the contact information on the account was changed to link it to Mizuhara’s phone number and an email account also connected to the interpreter.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Francesco has been ordered to have no contact with his dad or brother, and must stay at least 100 yards away from their homes, their cars and their workplaces.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
On July 12, 2022, two FBI agents contacted Suenram at his home and talked to him for about 10 minutes, the document said.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors say the abductions came to light on June 13, when the 16-year-old boy’s family in the United States was contacted by his kidnappers.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2024
People who want an interpreter at the meeting, or another accommodation, can contact WisDOT project representative Doug Cain at (262) 546-5603, or Douglas.cain@dot.wi.gov.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Soon, Barber was contacted by major record labels and, for the first time, realized music was indeed also a business.
—Dan Hyman, SPIN, 24 Apr. 2024
Police asked residents to contact the Gridley Police Department School Resource Officer Ashley Carson or Officer Emma Warren at 530-846-5670.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 24 Apr. 2024
Many of the alumni Rolling Stone spoke with said that shortly after joining the group, they were contacted by the FBI, who reached out in the summer of 2022.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024
The post said that the department began an investigation and contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol to send out a Silver Alert about Betty.
—Anna Turning, NBC News, 23 Apr. 2024
Sometime that day, Milwaukee police contact the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, which was investigating the leg found in Cudahy, about Robinson being missing.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Industries with traditionally late, or erratic hours, or those that require workers to be on-call, would still be allowed to contact workers as long as non-contact hours are clearly stated in worker contracts, or on-call time is compensated.
—Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
The most common injuries in football are strains and sprains, which happen in both contact and non-contact settings, along with dislocations, fractures and concussions.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Marvin Loría came off in the 80th minute due to a non-contact leg injury, holding his hamstring.
—oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2023
The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with 4 points in 9 minutes.
—Stephen Hawkins, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2023
The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with four points in nine minutes.
—Stephen Hawkins, Chron, 11 Mar. 2023
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Dexter Williams, whose strong arm and threat as a runner had ignited Indiana’s offense near the end of this season, left Saturday’s Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue with an apparent non-contact injury to his right leg.
—Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Nov. 2022
Jeremiah Wright is still in a yellow non-contact jersey but was participating in practice.
—Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 20 Mar. 2023
Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., who was limited in Wednesday’s practice, was still wearing a red, non-contact jersey on the practice field Thursday.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to contact
Dictionary Entries Near contact
Cite this Entry
“Contact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contact. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contact
1 of 3 noun
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
1
: a meeting or touching of surfaces
2
: the connection of two electrical conductors through which a current passes or a part made for such a connection
3
: a person one knows who has influence especially in the business or political world
our contacts in Los Angeles may be able to assist you
4
: an establishing of communication especially with someone or something distant
make contact by radio
5
contact
2 of 3 verb
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
kən-ˈtakt
1
: to bring or come into contact
2
: to get in touch or communication with
contact your local dealer for details
contact
3 of 3 adjective
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
: involving or acting upon contact
football and ice hockey are contact sports
contact insecticides
Etymology
Noun
from French contact or Latin contactus, both meaning "a touching of body surfaces," from Latin contingere "to have contact with, affect, happen," from con-, com- "with, together" and tangere "to touch" — related to contagious, contingent, tangent, tangible
Medical Definition
contact
1 of 2 noun
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
1
: union or junction of body surfaces
sexual contact
2
a
: the junction of two electrical conductors through which a current passes
b
: a special part that has been made for such a junction
3
: direct experience through the senses
loss of contact with reality
4
contact
2 of 2 adjective
: caused or transmitted by direct or indirect contact (as with an allergen or a contagious disease)
a contact allergy
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