join
Americanverb (used with object)
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joins,
present (3rd person singular)
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joined,
past participle, past
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joining
present participle
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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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joins,
present (3rd person singular)
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joined,
past participle, past
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joining
present participle
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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.
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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unjoinverb
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underjoinverb (used with object)
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joinableadjective
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unjoinableadjective
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well-joinedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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joinsimple
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joinssimple
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have joinedperfect
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has joinedperfect
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am joiningprogressive
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are joiningprogressive
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is joiningprogressive
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have been joiningperfect progressive
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has been joiningperfect progressive
Past
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joinedsimple
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had joinedperfect
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was joiningprogressive
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were joiningprogressive
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had been joiningperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
It is possible August will join that list by the end of next week as some forecast models suggest 35C in central and south-east England.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson says the club did not plan to sell Bruno Guimaraes, but their "very emotional" captain wanted to join Arsenal.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Dorsia members join at three different membership tiers—which affect members’ access to prime places at prime times—in limited markets that include Aspen, St. Barts, Ibiza, Martha’s Vineyard, and the Hamptons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Unwilling to join the voyeuristic crowd, Ms. Sampson urges readers to understand Sand’s socially transgressive behaviors in a less sensational context.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
I grabbed my coat and went to join Etty.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Rodri, though, may not receive a universal reception if he joins one of the two Spanish giants.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Kennedy joins Gruel — a chef, restaurateur and prominent opponent of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 — in a bright white studio kitchen.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
It joins two older 747s in service since the George H.W.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
"The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment."
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
Michelle hums a little more, but no one joins in.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
Jorge supported his local team Newell's Old Boys and Lionel joined the club when he was seven years old.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
She was joined by Oliver Haarmann, a founder of the firm Searchlight Capital Partners, which has more than $17 billion in assets under management.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
Such a group — joined potentially by Anderson Cooper and the former producers who resigned in protest — could sell itself as carrying the true DNA of gold-standard television news.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Buckingham first joined Fleetwood Mac with then-girlfriend and bandmate Nicks toward the end of 1974.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
As he listened to the music of Wolf’s song, more wolf voices joined it: weaving in and out, but never drowning that one clear, well-loved voice.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Laforteza thanked her fans for being “patient, understanding, and always showing me so much love,” and said she’d be joining Katseye fans, aka “eyekons,” in cheering on the group in the meantime.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
Defender Trevoh Chalobah is close to joining Como for £31m, including add-ons, while goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is joining sister club Strasbourg on loan.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Before joining the majors, Mr. Skenes worked at Louisiana State University’s pitching lab with his coach Wes Johnson.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Some of his GOP colleagues in the Senate are joining him in condemning his former son-in-law.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026
With so many Russian women joining the army as foot soldiers so they could fight in World War I, it’s no surprise that several of Russia’s first female aviators also went to war.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
