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.
It is not clear if Hellmann will rejoin the project.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Both have been cleared to rejoin the England squad for the third Test, with Stokes returning as captain.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Punch was raised in an artificial environment after being born in July, and began training to rejoin his troop earlier this year.
From Barron's ● May 18, 2026
Players who want to rejoin the PGA Tour likely face financial penalties.
From MarketWatch ● May 1, 2026
They could rejoin it in the spring, he said, but only if they “demonstrated respect for the entire school community.”
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
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.
