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.
DiGenova, who hadn’t worked as a prosecutor for decades, asked Medetis Long to rejoin the probe, people familiar with the team said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
She would be moving from being a full-time homemaker and mother, which requires physical and emotional labor, to rejoin the workforce.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
A poll by Survation in June found that 55 percent of voters would opt to rejoin if a referendum was held again.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
Speaking at the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton on Monday, the EU's new ambassador to the UK was asked whether the UK could rejoin the EU or be granted associate membership.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
When I rejoin the feast, everyone is taking their place at the long table.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
