Contact — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈkän-ˌtakt/ con·tact

Meaning & Definition of Contact

Contact (noun)

  1. union or junction of surfaces
  2. 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
  3. the junction of two electrical conductors through which a current passes

Contact (verb)

  1. to make contact
  2. to bring into contact
  3. to enter or be in contact with, join

Contact (adjective)

  1. maintaining, involving, or activated or caused by contact

Contact (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an acquaintance who has influence especially in the business or political world

    "an intern who got her summer job in the governor's office through contacts"

    similar: connection
    related: in, insider, big shot, bigwig, somebody, VIP, arbiter, arbitrator, conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, mediator, middleman, peacemaker

  2. the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation

    "she had moved to the other side of the country, but continued to stay in contact with her closest friends"

    similar: communication, hold, touch
    related: commerce, communion, intercommunication, intercourse

Contact (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to transmit information or requests to

    "you can contact me at this number"

    similar: address, communicate (with), get, reach, get hold of, get in touch with, touch base (with)
    related: get through (to), acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, instruct, notify, tell, wise (up), buzz, call, phone, ring (up) (chiefly British), telephone, keep up (with)

Related Entry: Contact lens (noun)

Contact lens is a different word from Contact. The synonyms below are for contact lens, not for contact.

  1. as in glass, sunglasses

    similar: eyeglasses, glass, specs, spectacles, bifocals, half-glasses, trifocals, lorgnette, monocle, pince-nez, sunglasses, goggles

Related Entry: Contact lenses (noun)

Contact lenses is a different word from Contact. The synonyms below are for contact lenses, not for contact.

  1. as in glasses, half-glasses

    similar: eyeglasses, glasses, specs, spectacles, bifocals, half-glasses, trifocals, lorgnettes, monocles, pince-nez, sunglasses, goggles

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Contact

The most common words with a similar meaning to Contact:

connection, communication, hold, touch, address, communicate (with), get, reach, get hold of, get in touch with, touch base (with)

Related Words for Contact

in, insider, big shot, bigwig, somebody, VIP, arbiter, arbitrator, conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, mediator, middleman, peacemaker, commerce, communion, intercommunication, intercourse, get through (to), acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform

Word Forms of Contact

Inflections: contacted, contacting, contacts

Origin & Etymology of Contact

borrowed from French & Latin; French, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin contāctus "touching, joining of surfaces, association," from contag-, variant stem of contingere "to be in contact with, arrive at, affect, fall to one's lot" + -tus, suffix of action nouns contingent:1

First known use: 1626

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Contact

Words & Phrases Containing Contact

contact binary, contact hitter, contact information, contact inhibition, contact language, contact lens, contact print

Frequently Asked Questions about Contact

What does "Contact" mean?

"Contact" means union or junction of surfaces. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: union or junction of surfaces. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Contact"?

Other words for "Contact" include connection, communication, hold, touch, address, communicate (with), get and reach. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Contact" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Contact"?

There are 51 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Contact". Common alternatives include connection, communication, hold, touch, address, communicate (with), get, reach, get hold of and get in touch with.

How do you use "Contact" in a sentence?

Examples of "Contact" in a sentence: "an intern who got her summer job in the governor's office through contacts"; "she had moved to the other side of the country, but continued to stay in contact with her closest friends"; "you can contact me at this number".

Is "Contact" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Contact" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Contact" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Contact" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Contact"?

"Contact" is pronounced /ˈkän-ˌtakt/ and divided into syllables as con·tact.

What is the origin of the word "Contact"?

"Contact" comes from borrowed from French & Latin; French, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin contāctus "touching, joining of surfaces, association," from contag-, variant stem of contingere "to be in contact with, arrive at, affect, fall to one's lot" + -tus, suffix of action nouns contingent:1. First known use: 1626.