connect
Americanverb (used with object)
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to join, link, or fasten together; unite or bind.
to connect the two cities by a bridge; Communication satellites connect the local stations into a network.
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to establish communication between; put in communication.
Operator, will you please connect me with Mr. Jones?
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to have as an accompanying or associated feature.
pleasures connected with music.
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to cause to be associated, as in a personal or business relationship.
to connect oneself with a group of like-minded persons; Our bank is connected with major foreign banks.
- Antonyms:
- dissociate
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to associate mentally or emotionally.
She connects all telegrams with bad news.
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to link to an electrical or communications system; hook up.
to connect a telephone.
verb (used without object)
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to become connected; join or unite.
These two parts connect at the sides.
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(of trains, buses, etc.) to run so as to make connections (often followed bywith ).
This bus connects with a northbound bus.
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Informal. to have or establish successful communication; make contact.
I connected with two new clients today.
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Informal. to relate to or be in harmony with another person, one's work, etc..
We knew each other well but never connected.
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Slang. (of a drug dealer or user) to make direct contact for the illegal sale or purchase of drugs, as narcotics.
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Sports. to hit successfully or solidly.
The batter connected for a home run. The boxer connected with a right.
adjective
verb
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to link or be linked together; join; fasten
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(tr) to relate or associate
I connect him with my childhood
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(tr) to establish telephone communications with or between
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(intr) to be meaningful or meaningfully related
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(intr) (of two public vehicles, such as trains or buses) to have the arrival of one timed to occur just before the departure of the other, for the convenient transfer of passengers
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informal (intr) to hit, punch, kick, etc, solidly
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informal (intr) to be successful
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slang (intr) to find a source of drugs, esp illegal drugs
Usage
What are other ways to say connect?
To connect is to link or fasten together, as two cities by a bridge. How is connect different from join and unite? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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connectabilitynoun
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connectibilitynoun
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connectornoun
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misconnectverb
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subconnectverb
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connectableadjective
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connectibleadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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connectsimple
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connectssimple
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have connectedperfect
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has connectedperfect
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are connectingprogressive
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am connectingprogressive
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is connectingprogressive
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have been connectingperfect progressive
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has been connectingperfect progressive
Past
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connectedsimple
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had connectedperfect
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was connectingprogressive
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were connectingprogressive
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had been connectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of connect
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin connectere, equivalent to con- “with, together” + nectere “to tie”; see con-, nexus
Explanation
Connect means to join together. When a puzzle piece fits into another, they connect. You might fly to Chicago and then connect to a flight to LA. When you meet someone and feel comfortable with them right away, you connect. The uses of connect continue. A receptionist connects you to the person you want to speak to on the phone. When you are assembling something, you are often told to connect tab A to slot B. When you punch someone, your fist connects with their face. You might not connect a movie with a historical event until your teacher points it out.
Vocabulary lists containing connect
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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com-, con-
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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.
Lilly also recently started a new service called Employer Connect that lets employers set up weight-loss drug coverage outside of traditional benefits.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Cumbria Connect said it was not involved in the release of the animals and suspected their release was illegal - which it did not "support".
From BBC • May 13, 2026
“That can be with your child or with your child and their friends. Connect in a low-pressure way: ‘Let’s bring some kids over and go to the park.’
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
"Apart from spectrum, the draft law appears to be a continuation of the status quo, lacking transformative proposals to foster much-needed investment," said Connect Europe, which represents European connectivity providers.
From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026
Right underneath it is a bookshelf with some books and old-school board games, like Twister, Connect Four, and Operation.
From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks
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.
