attach
Americanverb (used with object)
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to fasten or affix; join; connect.
to attach a photograph to an application with a staple.
- Antonyms:
- detach
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to join in action or function; make part of.
to attach oneself to a group.
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Military. to place on temporary duty with or in assistance to a military unit.
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to include as a quality or condition of something.
One proviso is attached to this legacy.
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to assign or attribute.
to attach significance to a gesture.
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to bind by ties of affection or regard.
You always attach yourself to people who end up hurting you.
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Law. to take (persons or property) by legal authority.
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Obsolete. to lay hold of; seize.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to join, fasten, or connect
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(reflexive or passive) to become associated with or join, as in a business or other venture
he attached himself to the expedition
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to be inherent (in) or connected (with)
responsibility attaches to the job
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to attribute or ascribe
to attach importance to an event
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to include or append, esp as a condition
a proviso is attached to the contract
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(usually passive) military to place on temporary duty with another unit
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(usually passive) to put (a member of an organization) to work in a different unit or agency, either with an expectation of reverting to, or while retaining some part of, the original working arrangement
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to appoint officially
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law to arrest or take (a person, property, etc) with lawful authority
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obsolete to seize
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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attachsimple
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attachessimple
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have attachedperfect
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has attachedperfect
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am attachingprogressive
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are attachingprogressive
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is attachingprogressive
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have been attachingperfect progressive
-
has been attachingperfect progressive
Past
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attachedsimple
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had attachedperfect
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was attachingprogressive
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were attachingprogressive
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had been attachingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of attach
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English atachen, from Anglo-French atacher “to seize,” Old French atachier “to fasten,” alteration of estachier “to fasten with or to a stake,” from estach(e), from Frankish stakka “stake”; cf. stake 1
Explanation
Use the verb attach when you need to join things together, like a stamp that you attach to a letter. When you attach something, you join it or tie it to something else. The word can be used to show physically joining things, like a printer that you attach to your computer, or to show a strong personal connection. For example, you can attach yourself to a political cause or to a group of friends.
Vocabulary lists containing attach
"Hitching a Ride"
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"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 5
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"Growing Together" and "When I Grow Up"
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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:
Dey De Guzman helps Sabine Hoppner attach her climbing harness at a community event Saturday in Pasadena..
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Biofilms are groups of bacteria that attach themselves to surfaces, including the inner walls of water pipes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
"The Swift telescope was never designed to be caught in space and have its orbit changed. So, the rescue craft is going to approach it very slowly and attach itself to the telescope."
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Financial-advice books inevitably attach warning labels to protect the authors should their suggestions blow up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Just like the day before, we attach our corpomonitors and comm units and exit down the ramp, but unlike before we no longer wear helmets.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
The system relies on a non destructive, controlled release adhesive that attaches without requiring built in mounting hardware.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
Roberts described the injury as “discomfort” at the back of Ohtani’s knee, around where the hamstring attaches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
“It is not coincidental that Poland, which shares a border with Russia and attaches high value to its membership in NATO, has been one of the largest gold buyers,” Eichengreen says.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
In August 2017, £660.80 was spent on a Jura glass coffee cup warmer, six Jura espresso cups and a stainless steel milk pipe, which attaches to a coffee machine.
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
A small white earpiece that attaches to my collar by a wire.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
As the Games approach, when venue designs are finalized, seats are assigned and tickets open to a first-come, first-served basis, there will likely be other chances to buy tickets with special seat assignments attached.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
They fear that any strings attached to the public money will make many private schools balk at taking it.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
The Jail Time Records studio is rudimentary - a small, sweaty recording booth attached to a room inhabited by a solitary computer.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
“There is no cash flow attached to them and they could easily be reversed,” Windsor wrote of the equity impacts.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
He made a glider by stretching a catalpa leaf across two sticks, attached it to his back, and climbed to the top of his birch.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
It is extending the border fence out to sea, attaching long lines of orange buoys to the jetty which ships will then patrol to deter future swimmers.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
For most of his career, he found his relevance by attaching himself to those who were.
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
There is a difference, albeit a fine one, between attaching strings and asking your children to be accountable for how they use the money you give them by discussing their dreams and financial goals.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 19, 2026
The method involves attaching a tiny reflective marker to each bee.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 14, 2026
Instead of arguing back, Regan straight-up ignored me and continued attaching her simulation probes.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
