contact
contact — noun
1. Communication between people achieved by talking, writing, or sending messages t
Communication between people achieved by talking, writing, or sending messages to one another, especially on a regular basis.
Léa keeps in regular contact with her former colleagues after leaving the company.
collocation: stay in regular contact
The rescue team lost contact with the hikers when their phone batteries died.
collocation: lose contact with someone
We try to maintain close contact with all our overseas partners through video calls.
After years without any contact, Samir received a surprise letter from his childhood friend.
Good customer contact is essential for any business that wants to keep its clients happy.
noun modifier: customer contact
- regular contact
- close contact
- direct contact
- stay in contact
- keep in contact
- lose contact
- make contact
- come into contact
- communication
broader; includes any exchange of information, not necessarily regular
- connection
can imply emotional or social ties beyond just messaging
- touch
informal; mostly used in phrases like 'get in touch' or 'keep in touch'
- isolation
state of having no communication with others
Usage Note
Uncountable in this sense — you do not say 'a contact' when referring to communication (compare with sense 3, where 'a contact' means a person).
Common Mistakes
2. A situation in which two people or objects are touching one another, or the act
A situation in which two people or objects are touching one another, or the act of coming close enough to touch.
The doctor warned that direct contact with the rash could spread the infection.
collocation: direct contact with [something]
Make sure the two metal wires do not come into contact with each other.
pattern: come into contact with
Children learn about the world through physical contact with objects around them.
collocation: physical contact
Eri felt the cold contact of the stone floor against her bare feet.
- physical contact
- direct contact
- skin contact
- eye contact
- come into contact
- in contact with
- avoid contact
- separation
state of being apart or not touching
Usage Note
Often used in scientific or medical contexts (e.g. 'contact dermatitis', 'contact transmission') to specify direct physical touching rather than airborne or fluid-borne routes.
Common Mistakes
3. A person you know, especially one in a position of influence, who can provide us
A person you know, especially one in a position of influence, who can provide useful information, advice, or introductions for professional or social purposes.
Christopher used his contacts in the publishing industry to get his manuscript reviewed.
collocation: contacts in [industry/field]
If you need a lawyer, I can give you a contact who handles property law.
A wide network of contacts is one of the best ways to advance your career.
collocation: network of contacts
Her contact at the newspaper helped get the story published ahead of schedule.
pattern: someone's contact at [organisation]
- business contact
- industry contact
- useful contact
- network of contacts
- list of contacts
- contact at
- connection
nearly identical in meaning; 'connection' can feel slightly more informal
- acquaintance
implies less usefulness or influence; just someone you know
Usage Note
Countable in this sense — 'a contact' refers to one person, and 'contacts' refers to several people in your professional or social network. Contrast with sense 1, where the word is uncountable.
Common Mistakes
4. The set of individuals whose phone numbers, email addresses, and other details y
The set of individuals whose phone numbers, email addresses, and other details you keep stored on your phone or computer so you can reach them easily.
Felix searched through his contacts for a plumber who could fix the leak.
Madison lost all her contacts when her old phone broke without a backup.
Hoa added the new supplier's details to her contacts straight after the meeting.
collocation: add [someone] to contacts
Eitan scrolled through his contacts to find someone who spoke Japanese.
- add to contacts
- save in contacts
- scroll through contacts
- list of contacts
- sync contacts
- address book
refers to the list itself rather than the names within it
Usage Note
Typically used in the plural ('my contacts') to refer to the collection of saved people. Singular ('a contact') in this sense refers to one entry in the list.
Common Mistakes
5. The section or application on a mobile phone, computer, or other device where yo
The section or application on a mobile phone, computer, or other device where you store and organise the names, numbers, and addresses of people you know.
You can save a new phone number directly from the call log into your contacts.
The app automatically syncs your contacts across all your devices.
collocation: sync contacts
Paloma organised her contacts into groups for work, family, and friends.
Daichi exported his contacts from his old phone and imported them into the new one.
pattern: export/import contacts
- open contacts
- sync contacts
- backup contacts
- contacts app
- contacts list
- export contacts
- import contacts
- address book
the traditional name; 'contacts' is the modern digital term
Usage Note
In digital contexts, 'contacts' can refer either to the people stored (sense 4) or to the app/database where they are kept (this sense). The distinction is subtle and often interchangeable in casual use.
6. A metal part in an electrical circuit that lets electricity pass through once it
A metal part in an electrical circuit that lets electricity pass through once it meets a matching conductive piece, or the junction where two such conductors join.
The lamp stopped working because the contact inside the switch had worn out.
Dirty contacts in the battery compartment can prevent a device from turning on.
collocation: dirty contacts
The electrician cleaned the relay contacts with a special solution to restore the connection.
collocation: relay contacts
When the two copper contacts touch, the circuit closes and the bell rings.
- electrical contact
- switch contact
- relay contact
- clean contacts
- dirty contacts
- copper contact
- make contact
Usage Note
Frequently appears in compound form — 'electrical contact', 'switch contact', 'relay contact'. A 'contact' in this sense is a physical part, not just an abstract connection.
7. A thin curved piece of plastic that sits on the front of the eyeball to help a p
A thin curved piece of plastic that sits on the front of the eyeball to help a person see more clearly; a short form of 'contact lens'.
Zayd prefers wearing contacts over glasses when he plays basketball.
collocation: wear contacts
Jisoo carefully cleaned her contacts before putting them in her eyes.
The optician showed Imani how to store her contact lenses safely overnight.
Linh accidentally slept in her contacts and woke up with very dry eyes.
- wear contacts
- put in contacts
- take out contacts
- soft contacts
- daily contacts
- clean contacts
- contact lens solution
- contact lens
the full form, slightly more formal or medical in tone
- glasses
the alternative vision aid worn on the face rather than on the eye
Usage Note
Almost always used in the plural ('contacts' or 'contact lenses') because they are worn as a pair. The singular 'a contact' is possible but less common than 'a contact lens'.
Common Mistakes
8. A photographic print created by placing a film negative directly onto light-sens
A photographic print created by placing a film negative directly onto light-sensitive paper and exposing it to light, producing an image the same size as the negative.
The photographer made a contact print to check the exposure of each negative.
collocation: make a contact print
Old contact prints from the 1970s were stored in a box in the archive.
In the darkroom, Jason placed negatives onto paper to create a contact print.
Élise examined the contact print under a bright lamp to check every detail.
- contact print
- make a contact print
- contact sheet
- contact printing
- proof sheet
a sheet of small contact prints used for selecting which images to enlarge
Usage Note
Traditional (film) photography only; the term is not used with digital photography. A contact print differs from an enlarged print, which uses a projector to magnify the negative.
point of contact
idiomA person or place you can go to for information or help when dealing with an organization.
Sara is the main point of contact for our school's sports program.
Do you know the point of contact for the library's lost and found?
contact — verb
1. To send a message, call, or otherwise reach someone, especially to give or ask f
To send a message, call, or otherwise reach someone, especially to give or ask for information.
Please contact the hotel directly to confirm your reservation.
contact + [organisation] directly
The school will contact parents if a child shows signs of illness.
Michael tried to contact the airline but the phone lines were busy.
If you have any questions about the product, please contact our support team.
pattern: contact [team/department]
Élise contacted the landlord about the broken heating system in her flat.
pattern: contact [someone] about [something]
- contact someone
- contact a company
- contact the office
- contact about
- contact regarding
- contact directly
- contact immediately
- reach
slightly more informal; often used when the method is unclear or unspecified
- get in touch with
more common in everyday conversation; less formal than 'contact'
- call
specific to telephone communication; more precise but narrower in meaning
- email
specific to written electronic communication; also narrower
Grammar Patterns
contact + person/organisation
contact + person + about + noun
Usage Note
Transitive verb — 'contact someone' (no preposition). 'Contact with someone' is a common learner error. In casual speech, alternatives like 'call', 'email', or 'get in touch with' are often used instead.
Common Mistakes
2. To come or be close enough to touch something, especially by accident or as part
To come or be close enough to touch something, especially by accident or as part of a physical process.
The rear bumper of the car just contacted the wall as he parked.
Make sure the raw meat does not contact other food in the fridge.
The probe contacted the surface of the asteroid and collected a soil sample.
technical register
His shoulder lightly contacted the doorframe as he walked through.
- contact the surface
- contact each other
- lightly contact
- barely contact
Grammar Patterns
contact + object
Usage Note
This sense is less common than the communication sense of the verb. In everyday English, 'touch' is preferred; 'contact' as a verb meaning 'touch' sounds technical or mechanical.
Common Mistakes
contact — adjective
1. Relating to or resulting from direct physical touching, especially used to descr
Relating to or resulting from direct physical touching, especially used to describe sports, skin conditions, or other situations where people or objects meet physically.
Contact dermatitis is a skin rash caused by touching a substance that irritates the skin.
compound: contact dermatitis
Contact sports such as rugby and wrestling carry a higher risk of injury.
compound: contact sports
The doctor prescribed a cream for the contact allergy that appeared on her hands.
The manufacturer added a warning label about contact hazards for workers with sensitive skin.
compound: contact hazard
- contact sport
- contact dermatitis
- contact allergy
- contact lens
- contact details
Usage Note
Primarily used as a modifier before nouns in fixed phrases ('contact sport', 'contact dermatitis', 'contact allergy'). It rarely stands alone as a predicate adjective.
Word family
- contactableadjectiveB2
- contactlessadjectiveB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
These five verbs all involve communicating with someone, but differ in specificity and formality. 'Contact' is the most neutral and general term — it covers any method (phone, email, letter, in person) and is suitable for both formal and semi-formal contexts. 'Reach' is slightly more informal and often implies success in connecting ('I finally reached her by phone'). 'Get in touch with' is the most conversational option, common in everyday speech and informal writing. 'Call' and 'email' specify the medium, making them more precise when the method matters. For example: 'Please contact the office during business hours' (any method); 'I'll try to reach him on his mobile'; 'Get in touch with me if you're free'; 'Call the doctor if symptoms get worse'; 'Email the team with your suggestions.'
Common collocations
Adverbs
Phrases
- in contact (with)
- out of contact (with)
- make contact (with)
- come into contact (with)
- lose contact (with)
- keep in contact (with)
- stay in contact (with)
Etymology
The word 'contact' comes from Latin 'contactus', meaning 'a touching', formed from 'com-' (together) and 'tangere' (to touch). It entered English through French in the early 1600s, initially referring only to physical touching. By the 1800s it had broadened to include communication and social connection, and in the 1900s it gained electrical and technological meanings. The modern digital sense of 'contacts' as a phonebook emerged in the late 20th century alongside mobile phones.