coalesce

American  

[koh-uh-les] / ˌkoʊ əˈlɛs /

verb (used without object)

coalesced, coalescing

1. to grow together or into one body.

   The two lakes coalesced into one.

   Synonyms:

   join, combine, unite

2. to unite so as to form one mass, community, etc..

   The various groups coalesced into a crowd.

   Synonyms:

   merge, blend, fuse, amalgamate, join, combine, unite

3. to blend or come together.

   Their ideas coalesced into one theory.

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verb (used with object)

coalesced, coalescing

1. to cause to unite in one body or mass.

coalesce British  

/ ˌkəʊəˈlɛs /

verb

1. (intr) to unite or come together in one body or mass; merge; fuse; blend

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Other Word Forms

• coalescence noun
• coalescent adjective
• noncoalescence noun
• noncoalescent adjective
• noncoalescing adjective
• uncoalescent adjective

Etymology

Origin of coalesce

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin coalēscere, equivalent to co- co- + al- (stem of alere “to nourish, make grow”) + -escere -esce

Explanation

Waiting for a plan to come together? You're waiting for it to coalesce. Coalesce is when different elements of something join together and become one. In coalesce, you see co-, which should tell you the word means "together." The other half of the word comes from alescere, a Latin verb meaning "to grow up." So if you are trying to start up a photography club at school, once you have an advisor, some interested students, and support from the administration, things will hopefully coalesce, or come together, to make it happen.

Example Sentences

Party leaders did coalesce behind one of the Democrats running to replace Pelosi, Scott Wiener, a liberal state senator who is vying be the first openly gay person to represent San Francisco in Congress.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

As entertainment media become dominant, they naturally coalesce around formats best suited for the technology and business model.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

We came to Park City to argue, to coalesce around favorites, to hate on the overrated.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

In the case of older women, ageism and misogyny sometimes coalesce.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Steam began to coalesce in a film of vapor on the upper reaches of the windows, closing the courtroom in a little, muffling the pale morning light.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Related Words

• consolidate
• fuse
• integrate
• unite