combine
Americanverb (used with object)
-
combines,
present (3rd person singular)
-
combined,
past participle, past
-
combining
present participle
-
to bring into or join in a close union or whole; unite.
She combined the ingredients to make the cake.
They combined the two companies.
- Synonyms:
- amalgamate, compound
- Antonyms:
- separate
-
to possess or exhibit in union.
a plan that combines the best features of several other plans.
-
to harvest (grain) with a combine.
verb (used without object)
-
combines,
present (3rd person singular)
-
combined,
past participle, past
-
combining
present participle
-
to unite; coalesce.
The clay combined with the water to form a thick paste.
- Antonyms:
- separate
-
to unite for a common purpose; join forces.
After the two factions combined, they proved invincible.
-
to enter into chemical union.
-
to use a combine in harvesting.
noun
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combines
plural
-
a combination.
-
a combination of persons or groups for the furtherance of their political, commercial, or other interests, as a syndicate, cartel, or trust.
-
a harvesting machine for cutting and threshing grain in the field.
verb
-
to integrate or cause to be integrated; join together
-
to unite or cause to unite to form a chemical compound
-
agriculture to harvest (crops) with a combine harvester
noun
-
agriculture short for combine harvester
-
an association of enterprises, esp in order to gain a monopoly of a market
-
an association of business corporations, political parties, sporting clubs, etc, for a common purpose
Usage
What does combine mean? To combine means to join two or more things together into a single unit. When things are combined, they form combinations. Less commonly, combine can also be used as a noun to refer to several different things, especially a grain harvester and an event at which athletes showcase their skills. Example: At the draft combine, scouts are looking for a player who combines strength, agility, and intelligence in a single package.
Synonym Usage
See mix.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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combinabilitynoun
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combinernoun
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recombinernoun
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precombineverb
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recombineverb
-
intercombineverb (used with object)
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combinableadjective
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noncombiningadjective
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uncombiningadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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combinesimple
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combinessimple
-
have combinedperfect
-
has combinedperfect
-
am combiningprogressive
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are combiningprogressive
-
is combiningprogressive
-
have been combiningperfect progressive
-
has been combiningperfect progressive
Past
-
combinedsimple
-
had combinedperfect
-
was combiningprogressive
-
were combiningprogressive
-
had been combiningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of combine
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English combinen, from Middle French combiner, from Late Latin combīnāre, equivalent to com- com- + -bīnāre, verb derived from bīnī “by twos” ( cf. binary)
Explanation
When you put things together, you combine them, creating one out of several. In some cases, the different items blend their properties and cannot be divided again, while in other cases the combined items can be picked out separately. In Latin, the prefix com- means "together," and bīnī means "two by two." These were combined to create the word combīnāre, or "to unite." Comedian Dave Attell offers a good use of the verb combine (cum-BINE): What're the two things they tell you are healthiest to eat? Chicken and fish. You know what you should do? Combine them, eat a penguin. Hiram Moore's combine (the noun is pronounced COM-bine) was a machine that combined reaping, binding, and threshing into one machine, saving farmers a lot of work.
Vocabulary lists containing combine
com-, con-
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Human Geography - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Hybrid policies combine life insurance with a long-term-care rider or use an annuity structure.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
At that point, it urged it to consider strategic alternatives including a potential deal to combine its contact-lens unit with rival Bausch + Lomb.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
Calls have grown for these levies to be extended to hybrid vehicles, which combine electric motors and internal combustion engines.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
The planned trial will combine IL1RAP targeted therapy with chemoimmunotherapy in patients with operable pancreatic cancer before surgery.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026
In the process of nuclear fusion, the nuclei of small atoms combine to form larger ones.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
But in mid-August the Olympic Council of Asia said the number would be closer to 17,000 after teqball - which combines elements of football and table tennis - and padel were included.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Developed by SIU Carbondale Geology Professor Ken Anderson, the process combines water and oxygen under high temperature and pressure to break resistant materials into compounds microbes can access.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
Magic Mountain in a release describes Thrill Glider as introducing a new coaster category, one that combines a motorbike-like seating arrangement with suspended coaster technologies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
Hyrox, which held its first edition in Germany in 2018, combines a series of workout challenges into a hybrid race.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
She combines the brains of a businessman, the toughness of a prize fighter, the warmth of a companion, the humor of a tragedian.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Mark Walter and Todd Boehly have agreed to sell their combined 25% stake in English soccer team Chelsea in a deal that will hand the two billionaires around $650 million each.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
They combined three immune-boosting proteins in a gel and placed it directly beneath the scalp.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
Chait noted at Tuesday’s meeting that small elementary schools result in grades being combined and that small high schools have fewer course options for students.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
“We’ve seen an unprecedented number of layoffs in the technology sector as economic factors combined with ‘AI hype’ have led to significant downsizing.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
It was a matter of paying close attention, combined with a great deal of practice.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Future research will need to investigate whether combining treatments produces even better results.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Instead, the company relies on novel upgrades, like a running shoe combining a new foam with its cushion technology for lower impact, to entice shoppers to pay full price.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
“By combining applied AI with decades of sophisticated business rules, regulatory compliance, security models, data models and customer configurations, we enable customers to continuously realize AI’s value,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
“Bunker’s” issue isn’t its politics so much as how to present them: In unwieldily combining satire, family drama and finally thriller, it ill serves all three.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
The verb vulcanize means “to strengthen a material such as rubber by combining it with sulfur and then applying heat and pressure.”
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
