combine

American  

[kuhm-bahyn, kom-bahyn, kom-bahyn, kuhm-bahyn, kom-bahyn] / kəmˈbaɪn, ˈkɒm baɪn, ˈkɒm baɪn, kəmˈbaɪn, ˈkɒm baɪn /

verb (used with object)

• combines,
  present (3rd person singular)
• combined,
  past participle,  past
• combining
  present participle

1. 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

2. to possess or exhibit in union.

   a plan that combines the best features of several other plans.

3. to harvest (grain) with a combine.

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verb (used without object)

• combines,
  present (3rd person singular)
• combined,
  past participle,  past
• combining
  present participle

1. to unite; coalesce.

   The clay combined with the water to form a thick paste.

   Antonyms:

   separate

2. to unite for a common purpose; join forces.

   After the two factions combined, they proved invincible.

3. to enter into chemical union.

4. to use a combine in harvesting.

noun

• combines
  plural

1. a combination.

2. a combination of persons or groups for the furtherance of their political, commercial, or other interests, as a syndicate, cartel, or trust.

   Synonyms:

   bloc, alignment, monopoly, merger

3. a harvesting machine for cutting and threshing grain in the field.

combine British  

verb

1. to integrate or cause to be integrated; join together

2. to unite or cause to unite to form a chemical compound

3. agriculture to harvest (crops) with a combine harvester

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noun

1. agriculture short for combine harvester

2. an association of enterprises, esp in order to gain a monopoly of a market

3. 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

• combinability
  noun
• combiner
  noun
• recombiner
  noun
• precombine
  verb
• recombine
  verb
• intercombine
  verb (used with object)
• combinable
  adjective
• noncombining
  adjective
• uncombining
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• combines
  plural

Participles

• combining
  present
• combined
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• combine
  simple
• combines
  simple
• have combined
  perfect
• has combined
  perfect
• am combining
  progressive
• are combining
  progressive
• is combining
  progressive
• have been combining
  perfect progressive
• has been combining
  perfect progressive

Past

• combined
  simple
• had combined
  perfect
• was combining
  progressive
• were combining
  progressive
• had been combining
  perfect progressive

Future

• will combine
  simple
• will have combined
  perfect
• will be combining
  progressive
• will have been combining
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

combine combines combined combining

There is also a speciality porridge competition, where competitors can combine oatmeal with any ingredients they choose, resulting in an imaginative mix of sweet and savoury dishes.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

“Even if you go through 10 or 20 employers, you can combine them all into your IRA,” Hughes says.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

Combining these two entrepreneurial, technology-forward companies would enable them to expand their operations and combine their expertise to expand consumer and small-business lending.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Two hurricanes in the Pacific could combine with high tides to cause flooding and erosion at Southern California beaches early next week.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

All of these combine to create our acoustic environment.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

This season, Yerxa said he’s paying roughly double for the diesel he uses to power the farm’s tractors, combines, harvesters and dozens of other heavy-duty machines.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

Markets are currently pricing in multiple interest-rate rises in every major advanced economy as the energy supply shock combines with the demand impulse generated by the artificial-intelligence boom to paint a picture of higher-for-longer inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Other options include the additional member system, a hybrid model that combines first-past-the-post with regional party lists that is used to elect members of the Scottish Parliament.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

"In Japan it's not a problem, there's always product available," said Yusuke Takada, who combines Japanese ingredients with French cooking techniques in La Cime, Osaka.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

She combines the brains of a businessman, the toughness of a prize fighter, the warmth of a companion, the humor of a tragedian.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Dennis Cinelli, chief financial officer of Paramount, will continue to hold the same role at the combined company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

The combined company will carry more than $80 billion in debt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

More than a dozen leaders across the combined company’s corporate, business and news functions will report directly to Ellison and Kreiz.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

One prominent Paramount executive, Cindy Holland, resigned last week to make way for Bloys to run the streaming programming for the combined company.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

The combined Allied forces’ Normandy Invasion in June 1944 is famous the world over.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Research has found that children raised with an authoritative approach, combining warmth with clear boundaries, tend to achieve better academic results, have higher self-esteem and stronger social skills.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

It would include combining the technology stacks for the various streaming platforms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

By combining measurements taken along the axes of the jets, the team searched for H-alpha, a characteristic signature of ionized hydrogen gas.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

They also signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding outlining a planned agreement to conduct clinical trials combining ivonescimab with several of AstraZeneca’s cancer medicines in a range of clinical trials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

The verb vulcanize means “to strengthen a material such as rubber by combining it with sulfur and then applying heat and pressure.”

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• associate
• blend
• couple
• fuse
• incorporate
• link
• merge
• mix