Meaning of “volunteer” in the English Dictionary

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"volunteer" in English

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uk /ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪər/ us /ˌvɑː.lənˈtɪr/

B2 a person who does something, especially helping other people, willingly and without being forced or paid to do it:

The Health clinic is relying on volunteers to run the office and answer the phones.

Since it would be a highly dangerous mission, the Lieutenant asked for volunteers.

It's a volunteer army with no paid professionals.

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More examples

As a volunteer on the childcare project, I really saw life.
He emphasized that all the people taking part in the research were volunteers.
We're saving money by using volunteers.
She placed her name on the list of volunteers.
Charities such as Oxfam are always trying to recruit volunteers to help in their work.

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uk /ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪər/ us /ˌvɑː.lənˈtɪr/

C1 [ I or T ] to offer to do something that you do not have to do, often without having been asked to do it and/or without expecting payment:

[ + to infinitive ] During the emergency many staff volunteered to work through the weekend.

He volunteered for the army (= he joined even though he did not have to).

I volunteered myself for the position of Health and Safety Representative.

humorous My friends volunteered me to do the talking.

› [ T ] to give information without being asked:

If I were you, I wouldn't volunteer any details of what happened.

[ + speech ] "I saw her going out of the main entrance half an hour ago," he volunteered.

More examples

You can accuse me of cowardice, but I still wouldn't volunteer to fight in a war.
I volunteered to do the washing up.
Many women volunteered to work as nurses in the war.
Did anybody volunteer to tidy up?
They all volunteered to help with the digging.