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

join Related Forms
join′·able adjective
join Idioms

join battle

to start fighting or competing

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

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.
  • army: Private Dwyer was born in Fulham, London, on 25th November 1895 and joined the Army at the age of sixteen in 1911.
  • club: Some of the public showed an interest in joining the club which was very good.
  • team: She has joined the Cygnus team to help Regina with customer care.
  • euro: Sometimes I'm accused of being a Little Englander because I'm against joining the euro.
  • rank: In September 2004 they joined ranks with the Post Office.

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.
  • fun: He could not wait to join in the fun.
  • debate: Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.
  • fray: Also joining in the fray is new kid on the block XGI, which has three cards that we'll be seeing this year.
  • singing: The impostors were three more guitarists, including the Proud Father, and his daughter to join in the singing.
  • conversation: She was already too famous to join in the conversation at the bar.

Preposition: by

  • representative: They will shortly be joined by a representative of the new Associations.
  • bond: Nitrogen normally occurs as dinitrogen ( N2 ) and the two nitrogen atoms are joined by a double strength bond.