join Hear it!

join definition

join (jo̵in)

transitive verb

  1. to put or bring together; connect; fasten
  2. to make into one; unite join forces, join people in marriage
  3. to become a part or member of; enter into association with to join a club
  4. to go to and combine with the path joins the highway
    1. to enter into the company of; accompany join us later
    2. to participate or take part with they join me in congratulating you
  6. Informal to adjoin
  7. Geom. to connect with a straight line or curve

Etymology: ME joinen < OFr joindre < L jungere, to bind together, yoke

intransitive verb

  1. to come together; meet
  2. : often with up
    1. to enter into association
    2. to become a member of a group or organization
  3. to participate (in a conversation, singing, an activity, etc.)

noun

a place of joining; joint

Related Forms:

join Idioms

join battle

to start fighting or competing

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

join Synonyms

join

v.

  1. To put or bring together

    unite, connect, link, piece together, blend, combine, merge, consolidate, amalgamate, juxtapose, bring in contact, touch, connect up, couple, conjoin, affix, mix, assemble, stick together, bind together, lump together, fasten, append, attach, secure, tie, annex, agglutinate, bracket, span, intermix, cross with, pair with, leash, yoke, marry, wed, melt into one, copulate, cement, weld, splice, clasp, fuse, lock, grapple, clamp, clip, interlace, entwine, subjoin, involve together, associate; see also unite 1.

    Antonyms separate*, sunder*, sever. *

  2. To enter the company of

    enlist, enroll, enter, become a member, associate with, go to, meet, accompany, mingle with, seek, join forces, go to the aid of, follow, rejoin, register, team up with, take up with, tie up with, line up with, be in, sign on, sign up, go in with, fall in with, align, consort, fraternize, throw in with, pair with, affiliate, side with, align with, ally oneself, make one of, take part in, participate, seek a place among, advance toward, go to meet; see also associate 1, unite 1.

    Antonyms leave*, desert*, quit. *

  3. To adjoin

    lie next to, be contiguous to, neighbor, border, fringe, butt, trench on, verge upon, be adjacent to, open into, be close to, bound, lie beside, lie near, be at hand, abut, touch, skirt, flank, parallel, rim, hem, abound and abut upon.

join is the general term implying a bringing or coming together of two or more things and may suggest direct contact, affiliation, etc.; combine implies a mingling together of things, often with a loss of distinction of elements that completely merge with one another to combine milk and water; unite implies a joining or combining of things to form a single whole the United States; connect implies attachment by some fastening or relationship roads connected by a bridge, the duties connected with a job; link stresses firmness of a connection linked together in a common cause; associate implies a joining with another or others as a companion, partner, etc. and, in extended use, suggests a connection made in the mind to associate Freud's name with psychoanalysis; consolidate implies a merger of distinct and separate units into a single whole for resulting compactness, strength, efficiency, etc. to consolidate one's debts


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

join Usage Examples

Object

  • force: The firm joined forces with rival Viridor in a 50/50 partnership called Lakeside Energy from Waste to build the plant.

Subject

  • representative: They will shortly be joined by a representative of the new Associations.

Preposition: as

  • guitarist: The Boys changed their name to The Action in 1965 about the same time that Pete Watson joined as the second guitarist.

Modifying Another Word

  • together: The two are joined together by means of a long cork.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: The Watling street is the modern Edgware Road which comes in at Marble Arch to join up with the early roads from the south.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: It converts videoconferencing into a remote interviewing system, enabling councils to deliver joined up services into the community.

Used with why or when

  • whatever: There you will have the chance to join whatever groups take your fancy.

Preposition: in

  • celebration: Join in the anniversary celebrations by nominating your favorite Carnegie and Kate Greenaway winners of all time Nominations are being accepted until 1 December.

Preposition: by

  • representative: They will shortly be joined by a representative of the new Associations.
join usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"join." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/join>

APA Style

join. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/join

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment