commune

1 of 2

verb

com·​mune kə-ˈmyün 

communed; communing

transitive verb

obsolete : talk over, discuss

have more to commune

—William Shakespeare

intransitive verb

1

: to receive Communion

The people who had communed returned to their pews using the side aisles.

2

: to communicate intimately

commune with nature

… he stands communing with his soul on a bridge …

—Richard Alleva

commune

2 of 2

noun

com·​mune ˈkäm-ˌyün 

kə-ˈmyün,

kä-

1

: the smallest administrative district of many countries especially in Europe

2

: commonalty sense 1a

3

: community: such as

a

: a medieval usually municipal corporation

b(1)

: mir

(2)

: an often rural community organized on a communal basis

Synonyms

Verb

• relate
• bond
• click

Examples of commune in a Sentence

Verb

a psychic who communes with the dead

after a week in the wilderness, the scouts were really starting to commune with nature

Noun

He's living in a religious commune.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Volunteer to water trees The Carmel-Clay Parks and Recreation Department gives children a chance to get their hands wet while communing with nature. —John Tuohy, IndyStar, 30 Apr. 2025

Those who like taking their SUV or truck out to the middle of nowhere to commune with nature and enjoy quality time with friends and family will appreciate the Howler Brothers theme. —Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

Noun

Barolo wines are made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes that must be grown in one of 11 communes (municipalities) in the Langhe hills of Piedmont in northwestern Italy. —Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

For a number of years, my grandfather, the son of a Conservative rabbi, lived on an inter-faith commune in New Mexico. —Literary Hub, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to share, receive Communion, from Anglo-French communer, cummunier, from Late Latin communicare, from Latin — see communicate

Noun

French, alteration of Middle French comugne, from Medieval Latin communia, from Latin, neuter plural of communis

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

commune

1 of 2 verb

com·​mune kə-ˈmyün 

communed; communing

1

: to receive Communion

2

: to be in close communication with someone or something

commune with nature

commune

2 of 2 noun

com·​mune ˈkäm-ˌyün 

kə-ˈmyün

1

: the smallest administrative district of many countries especially in Europe

2

: a small group of people that live together and share property and duties