connect
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
-
to establish communication between; put in communication.
Operator, will you please connect me with Mr. Jones?
-
to have as an accompanying or associated feature.
pleasures connected with music.
-
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
-
to associate mentally or emotionally.
She connects all telegrams with bad news.
-
to link to an electrical or communications system; hook up.
to connect a telephone.
verb (used without object)
-
to become connected; join or unite.
These two parts connect at the sides.
-
(of trains, buses, etc.) to run so as to make connections (often followed bywith ).
This bus connects with a northbound bus.
-
Informal. to have or establish successful communication; make contact.
I connected with two new clients today.
-
Informal. to relate to or be in harmony with another person, one's work, etc..
We knew each other well but never connected.
-
Slang. (of a drug dealer or user) to make direct contact for the illegal sale or purchase of drugs, as narcotics.
-
Sports. to hit successfully or solidly.
The batter connected for a home run. The boxer connected with a right.
adjective
verb
-
to link or be linked together; join; fasten
-
(tr) to relate or associate
I connect him with my childhood
-
(tr) to establish telephone communications with or between
-
(intr) to be meaningful or meaningfully related
-
(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
-
informal (intr) to hit, punch, kick, etc, solidly
-
informal (intr) to be successful
-
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
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
com-, con-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“And that it’s someone that is trying to find a way to connect to others. And this guy has been alive since the beginning of time. And I was like, ‘Oh, this is very interesting.’
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
PJM is also working on new rules that will govern how data centers can connect to the grid more quickly.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
In the other direction lay spending the money on completing a slowed down, stump of a line, that would only connect west London with Birmingham by the late 2030s.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Programs like Brave1 connect investors directly to startups and to the user on the front line, giving fast feedback.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
He’d hang a copper wire out the window facing the courthouse, connect the homemade antenna to his shortwave radio, and exchange coded messages with Moscow.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
