combine

American  

[kuhm-bahyn, kom-bahyn, kom-bahyn, kuhm-bahyn, kom-bahyn] / kəmˈbaɪn, ˈkɒm baɪn, ˈkɒm baɪn, kəmˈbaɪn, ˈkɒm baɪn /

verb (used with object)

• combines,
  present (3rd person singular)
• combined,
  past participle,  past
• combining
  present participle

1. 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

2. to possess or exhibit in union.

   a plan that combines the best features of several other plans.

3. to harvest (grain) with a combine.

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verb (used without object)

• combines,
  present (3rd person singular)
• combined,
  past participle,  past
• combining
  present participle

1. to unite; coalesce.

   The clay combined with the water to form a thick paste.

   Antonyms:

   separate

2. to unite for a common purpose; join forces.

   After the two factions combined, they proved invincible.

3. to enter into chemical union.

4. to use a combine in harvesting.

noun

• combines
  plural

1. a combination.

2. a combination of persons or groups for the furtherance of their political, commercial, or other interests, as a syndicate, cartel, or trust.

   Synonyms:

   bloc, alignment, monopoly, merger

3. a harvesting machine for cutting and threshing grain in the field.

combine British  

verb

1. to integrate or cause to be integrated; join together

2. to unite or cause to unite to form a chemical compound

3. agriculture to harvest (crops) with a combine harvester

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noun

1. agriculture short for combine harvester

2. an association of enterprises, esp in order to gain a monopoly of a market

3. 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

• combinability
  noun
• combiner
  noun
• recombiner
  noun
• precombine
  verb
• recombine
  verb
• intercombine
  verb (used with object)
• combinable
  adjective
• noncombining
  adjective
• uncombining
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• combines
  plural

Participles

• combining
  present
• combined
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• combine
  simple
• combines
  simple
• have combined
  perfect
• has combined
  perfect
• am combining
  progressive
• are combining
  progressive
• is combining
  progressive
• have been combining
  perfect progressive
• has been combining
  perfect progressive

Past

• combined
  simple
• had combined
  perfect
• was combining
  progressive
• were combining
  progressive
• had been combining
  perfect progressive

Future

• will combine
  simple
• will have combined
  perfect
• will be combining
  progressive
• will have been combining
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

combine combines combined combining

King performed well at the NFL scouting combine earlier this year, running the 40-yard dash in a blistering 4.46 seconds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Instead of relying on a traditional penalty-box striker, De Zerbi often asks his centre forward to vacate central spaces, combine with midfielders and create room for wide players to attack.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Scott is a 10-time Grammy nominee whose ability to combine spectacle with his lyrical craft has gained him a significantly passionate following.

From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026

The findings raise the possibility of future devices that combine energy storage with water treatment.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

What I hope will become clear from this book is that one can usefully combine a descriptive and prescriptive approach to what is happening to this single aspect of the language.

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author

The entertainment company combines movie screenings with live theatre performances and themed environments, allowing audiences to immerse themselves in their favourite stories.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

The material combines tungsten carbide, which provides hardness, with cobalt, which acts as a metallic binder that holds the carbide particles together.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026

“Perfectly positioned near ocean beaches, renowned restaurants, and the heart of the village, the property seamlessly combines privacy, elegance, and convenience.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

The documentary combines the interviews with reenactments and archival footage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

The corn looked as if it’d been chewed up by one of those combines we’d seen at the state fair.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye

Kelly had combined live action and animation previously, dancing with Jerry the Mouse in the 1945 film “Anchors Aweigh.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

The pair combined again to great effect the following year on Madonna's number two UK chart hit Beautiful Stranger, which he co-wrote and played on.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

To determine how the system worked, the researchers combined in situ spectroscopy, photochemical analysis, finite element simulations, and theoretical calculations.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

Ellison, in his bid for Warner Bros., has promised regulators that a combined Warner-Paramount studio would release 30 films a year — an amount that some experts believe is overly ambitious.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

I imagine the holiday show and the combined music rehearsal and everyone all together—it’ll be even louder than this.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

District Judge Troy L. Nunley issued a preliminary injunction in April that forbids Nexstar — which owns KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles — and Tegna, from combining operations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

The smell of burnt wood combining with grapes for smoky wine would not necessarily make it unfit for consumption, but it would likely compromise sales, he said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Gakpo ranks in the 78th percentile for link-up play, the 75th for pass progression and the 67th for creative threat, illustrating his comfort combining in tight spaces and contributing to build-up play.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Most of the increased cost savings came from combining streaming technology and third-party vendors, said Andy Gordon, chief strategy officer and chief operating officer, in an interview.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

I had been concerned about combining six children with a lake, but I feel better when I see the setup.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

• associate
• blend
• couple
• fuse
• incorporate
• link
• merge
• mix