to be a part of a group or an activity and help it to be successful （使）（在团体或活动中）出力，起作用
[I] ~ (to sth)to be one of the causes of sth 是…的原因之一
Medical negligence was said to have contributed to her death.
据说医务人员的玩忽职守是她死亡的原因之一。
Human error may have been a contributing factor.
人为过错可能是一个起作用的因素。