volunteering
volunteering — verb
- volunteeringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- volunteerings3rd person singular
- volunteeringing-ing form
- volunteeringedpast simple
1. to choose freely to do a job or task, especially one that helps other people, wi
to choose freely to do a job or task, especially one that helps other people, without expecting payment and without being forced or officially required to do it
Vivek started volunteering at the local animal shelter every Saturday.
start + gerund: start volunteering
The company encourages its staff to volunteer for community projects during work hours.
collocation: volunteer for [project/initiative]
Élise volunteered to organise the charity run after hearing about the hospital's need for funds.
Wei has been volunteering as a tutor for primary school children since last summer.
Many residents volunteered their time to clean up the park after the storm.
- offer
more general; can apply to money, goods, or help, not just unpaid service
- step forward
phrasal verb, implies coming out from a group to offer help
- sign up
implies registering or enrolling, often through a formal process
文法句型
volunteer + to-infinitive
volunteer + for/as + noun phrase
volunteer + time/help/services
用法筆記
This sense is often followed by a to-infinitive (volunteer to do something) or by the prepositions for/as when naming the activity or role. When used transitively, the object is typically time, help, or a service — not money or goods.
常見錯誤
2. to give information, an opinion, a suggestion, or an answer without being asked
to give information, an opinion, a suggestion, or an answer without being asked or prompted to do so
The witness volunteered a crucial detail that the police had not yet discovered.
volunteer + direct object (information)
No one asked him, but Christopher volunteered his thoughts on the budget plan anyway.
During the meeting, Abigail volunteered the name of a supplier she had used before.
Tamar quietly volunteered an answer when the teacher paused for a moment.
文法句型
volunteer + information/details/opinion/answer
volunteer + that-clause
用法筆記
This sense is always transitive and typically takes a direct object such as information, a detail, an opinion, an answer, or a name. Unlike sense 1, it cannot be used with for/as or a to-infinitive.
常見錯誤
volunteering — noun
1. a person who freely chooses to do work, especially work that helps others, witho
a person who freely chooses to do work, especially work that helps others, without expecting to receive any payment for it
The hospital relies on trained volunteers to comfort patients in the emergency room.
collocation: rely on volunteers
Volunteers handed out water bottles to runners at the finish line of the marathon.
Kwame signed up as a volunteer at the food bank after retiring from his job.
Many volunteers from the university help teach English to new immigrant families every Sunday.
- helper
broader; a helper may be paid or unpaid
- good Samaritan
informal; describes someone who helps strangers without being asked
- employee
someone paid for their work
- paid worker
someone who receives wages or a salary
用法筆記
A volunteer is distinguished from an employee by the absence of payment, though volunteers may receive small non-cash benefits such as meals, transport reimbursement, or training.
常見錯誤
2. a person who chooses to join the armed forces of their own free will, rather tha
a person who chooses to join the armed forces of their own free will, rather than being required by law to serve
During the war, thousands of volunteers enlisted before the draft was officially announced.
military context: volunteers vs. draft
The army accepts both volunteers and conscripts into its basic training programme.
Lakan decided to become a volunteer in the navy rather than wait for a call-up notice.
Javier walked into the Córdoba recruitment office and became a volunteer in the engineering corps.
- enlisted person
a broader military term; can apply to both volunteers and draftees after joining
- enlistee
formal; anyone who has joined the military
用法筆記
The opposite of a volunteer in military contexts is a conscript or draftee — someone forced to serve. This sense is most common in discussions of military history, policy, or countries with compulsory service.
volunteering — adjective
- volunteeringpositive
- more volunteeringcomparative
- most volunteeringsuperlative
1. involving people who work without payment, or describing work that is done freel
involving people who work without payment, or describing work that is done freely to help others rather than for money
The volunteer fire department responded to the blaze within minutes of the call.
attributive: volunteer + noun (department)
She runs a volunteer programme that matches retired professionals with local schools.
The community centre is run entirely by volunteer staff who donate their weekends.
A volunteer army of parents organised the school's annual fundraising fair.
Volunteer work at the hospice taught Mauricio the value of simply being present.
- paid
describing work for which someone receives wages
- professional
implies work done as a paid occupation
文法句型
volunteer + noun
用法筆記
Volunteer as an adjective is used only before a noun (attributive position). It cannot be used predicatively: you cannot say 'The work is volunteer.' Instead say 'The work is done by volunteers' or use the attributive pattern 'volunteer work.'