rejoin
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to come again into the company of.
to rejoin a party after a brief absence.
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to join together again; reunite.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to come again into company with (someone or something)
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(tr) to put or join together again; reunite
verb
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to say (something) in reply; answer, reply, or retort
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law to answer (a claimant's reply)
Etymology
Origin of rejoin1
First recorded in 1535–45; re- + join
Origin of rejoin2
1425–75; late Middle English rejoinen < Anglo-French rejoyner, variant of Middle French rejoindre, equivalent to re- re- + joindre to join
Explanation
To rejoin is to reunite or reconnect with, the way you rejoin your friends at the amusement park after they get off the terrifying rollercoaster. When you go away from someone and then meet up again, you rejoin them. You can also rejoin a club or organization: "I quit band in sixth grade but decided to rejoin this year." In a courtroom, to rejoin is to respond to a plaintiff's statement — it's sometimes described as a reply to a reply. A less common meaning is "sharp, quick response." When one kindergartener calls another "stinky," she might rejoin, "I know you are, but what am I?"
Vocabulary lists containing rejoin
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.
Former players don’t decide to rejoin the brutal NFL for just anyone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
And that was before future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald announced Sunday that he was ending a two-year retirement to rejoin a team favored to win the Super Bowl.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
Although Kushner chose not to officially rejoin his father-in-law’s second administration, he is serving, along with Trump’s real estate buddy Steve Witkoff, as its special diplomatic envoy.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is considering coming out of retirement to rejoin the team.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
When I rejoin the feast, everyone is taking their place at the long table.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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.
