combine
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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
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to possess or exhibit in union.
a plan that combines the best features of several other plans.
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to harvest (grain) with a combine.
verb (used without object)
-
to unite; coalesce.
The clay combined with the water to form a thick paste.
- Antonyms:
- separate
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to unite for a common purpose; join forces.
After the two factions combined, they proved invincible.
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to enter into chemical union.
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to use a combine in harvesting.
noun
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a combination.
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a combination of persons or groups for the furtherance of their political, commercial, or other interests, as a syndicate, cartel, or trust.
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a harvesting machine for cutting and threshing grain in the field.
verb
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to integrate or cause to be integrated; join together
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to unite or cause to unite to form a chemical compound
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agriculture to harvest (crops) with a combine harvester
noun
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agriculture short for combine harvester
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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
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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
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have combinedperfect
-
has combinedperfect
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are combiningprogressive
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am combiningprogressive
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is combiningprogressive
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have been combiningperfect progressive
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has been combiningperfect progressive
Past
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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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Human Geography - High 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.
County, the Civilian Oversight Commission has said the March ruling, AB 847 and Measure R combine to affirm its subpoena powers.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
For future transistors that combine silicon and TMD materials, manufacturers may need to selectively remove atoms from only the upper sulfur layer while leaving the underlying layers untouched.
From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2026
Olin and Huntsman have agreed to combine in all-stock deal that creates a North American chemicals company that generated combined revenue of about $12.5 billion last year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026
Shared parental leave, affordable childcare and universal pre-school helped to create conditions that made it easier to combine work and family life.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
“The consonants would be horizontal then? And they would combine like this?”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
