join
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bring in contact, connect, or bring or put together.
to join hands; to join pages with a staple.
- Synonyms:
- amalgamate, consolidate, associate, combine, conjoin, attach, fasten, couple, link
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to come into contact or union with.
The brook joins the river.
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to bring together in a particular relation or for a specific purpose, action, etc.; unite.
to join forces against the smugglers.
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to become a member of (an organization, party, etc.).
to join a club.
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to enlist in (one of the armed forces).
to join the Navy.
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to come into the company of; meet or accompany.
I'll join you later.
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to participate with (someone) in some act or activity.
My wife joins me in thanking you for the gift.
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to unite in marriage.
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to meet or engage in (battle, conflict, etc.).
The opposing armies joined battle.
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to adjoin; meet.
His land joins mine.
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to draw a curve or straight line between.
to join two points on a graph.
verb (used without object)
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to come into or be in contact or connection.
a place where cliffs and sea join.
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to become united, associated, or combined; associate or ally oneself; participate (usually followed bywith ).
Please join with us in our campaign.
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to take part with others (often followed byin ).
Let's all join in.
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to be contiguous or close; lie or come together; form a junction.
Our farms join along the river.
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to enlist in one of the armed forces (often followed byup ).
He joined up to fight for his country.
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to meet in battle or conflict.
noun
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a joining.
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a place or line of joining; seam.
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Mathematics. union.
verb
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to come or bring together; connect
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to become a member of (a club, organization, etc)
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to become associated or allied
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to take part
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(tr) to meet (someone) as a companion
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(tr) to become part of; take a place in or with
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(tr) to unite (two people) in marriage
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(tr) geometry to connect with a straight line or a curve
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(tr) an informal word for adjoin
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to start fighting
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to report for work after a period of leave or a strike
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to hold one's own hands together
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(of two people) to hold each other's hands
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(usually foll by with) to work together in an enterprise or task
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noun
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a joint; seam
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the act of joining
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maths another name for union
Usage
What are other ways to say join?
To join is to bring in contact, connect, or bring together. How is join different from connect and unite? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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misjoinverb
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underjoinverb (used with object)
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unjoinableadjective
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joinableadjective
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well-joinedadjective
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unjoinverb
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have joinedperfect
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has joinedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been joiningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am joiningprogressive 1st person singular
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joinssingular 3rd person
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is joiningprogressive 3rd person singular
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joiningparticiple
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are joiningprogressive
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have been joiningperfect progressive
Past
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had joinedperfect
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was joiningprogressive singular
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had been joiningperfect progressive
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joinedsimple
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were joiningprogressive plural
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joinedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of join
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English joinen, from Old French joign- (stem of joindre “to join”), from Latin jungere “to join”; see yoke 1 ( def. )
Explanation
To join is to connect, attach, or become a member of. You could join two puzzle pieces together or join the Girl Scouts; it's your choice. You can join two plastic tubes to make a long tunnel for your pet hamster, and you can also join a club — in other words, become a member or a part of the group. You can also join in with a song or join the staff of a swimming pool as a lifeguard. Join comes from the Old French word joindre, "connect or unite," from the Latin root iungere, "to join together, unite, or yoke."
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.
Told by reporters that Hilton wanted Becerra to campaign for the ballot initiative, Becerra responded, “Come join me here, where the real people are,” gesturing toward the packed food hall.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
COP31 hosts Turkey urged countries Tuesday to join a voluntary push to make electricity account for 35 percent of global energy demand by 2035 as it outlined its priorities for the UN climate talks.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
Artan, from Somalia, flew into Miami to join up with the other 51 referees.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
According to the film’s logline, Kara’s encounter with “an unexpected and ruthless adversary” leads her to “reluctantly join forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Mila came out to join us and got in the way, of course.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
