join
join
Pronunciation
Join
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /dʒɔɪn/
Syllable 1: /dʒɔɪn/
/dʒ/ as in "judge" (voiced palato-alveolar affricate)
/ɔɪ/ as in "boy" (diphthong)
/n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: join
Past tense: joined
Past participle: joined
Present participle: joining
Third-person singular present: joins
Noun (derived forms):
join (less common as a standalone noun, primarily refers to a place of joining, e.g., "a seamless join")
joins (plural of the noun form)
joiner (a person who joins things, especially wood)
joint (a place where things are joined; can also be an adjective)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To come together with or into the company of; to become a member of a group, organization, or activity.
Synonyms: unite with, associate with, participate in, enroll in, become a member of, link up with
Antonyms: leave, separate from, withdraw from, quit, abandon
To bring together or connect two or more things; to put or fasten together.
Synonyms: connect, unite, link, fasten, attach, merge, combine
Antonyms: separate, detach, disconnect, divide, unfasten
To meet or come together at a particular point or line.
Synonyms: meet, converge, connect, intersect, link up
Antonyms: diverge, separate, diverge from
To accompany or be associated with (someone) in an activity or place.
Synonyms: accompany, go with, attend, partake with, come along with
Antonyms: leave behind, avoid, shun
Noun
A place or point where two or more things are joined or united; a seam or connection.
Synonyms: seam, joint, connection, juncture, link, nexus
Antonyms: separation, gap, break, division, disconnect
Examples of Use
Books:
"The weary traveler decided to join the caravan heading south, seeking safety in numbers." (From a fictional adventure novel, generic example)
"To effectively build a strong team, leaders must foster a sense of belonging and encourage members to join in collective efforts." (From a business leadership book, generic example)
Newspapers:
"Thousands are expected to join the protest march against the new austerity measures tomorrow." (From a news report, generic example)
"The two rival telecommunication companies have announced plans to join forces to develop 5G infrastructure." (From a business news section, generic example, referring to merging efforts)
"Local residents are invited to join the community clean-up initiative this weekend." (From a community events listing, generic example)
Online Publications:
"Click here to join our exclusive newsletter and receive daily tech updates." (From a website call-to-action, e.g., The Verge)
"Learn how to join a Zoom meeting quickly and efficiently." (From a tech support article or tutorial, e.g., Zoom Help Center)
"Why you should join a book club: benefits for mental well-being and social connection." (From a lifestyle blog, e.g., Medium.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Will you join me in this fight, or will you stand by and watch our world fall?" (Dialogue from a fantasy or action film, generic example, e.g., The Lord of the Rings)
Television Series: "To solve this case, you'll need to join the dots between seemingly unrelated events." (Dialogue from a crime drama, generic example)
Music (Song Lyrics): "Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now." (While this classic song, "Get Together" by The Youngbloods, emphasizes unity, it doesn't contain "join." I will replace it with a more fitting example.) -> "So come on and join the party, we're just getting started!" (From a pop or dance song, generic example)
Video Games: "Do you wish to join the guild? Your skills would be a valuable asset." (In-game dialogue or prompt in an RPG, e.g., World of Warcraft)
Podcasts: "Listeners are encouraged to join the conversation on our social media channels using #PodcastTopic." (From a podcast host's sign-off, generic example)
General Public Discourse:
"Would you like to join us for dinner?" (Common social invitation)
"Can you join these two pieces of wood together?" (Common instruction, referring to connecting objects)
"I decided to join a gym to get back in shape." (Common personal statement)
"Our flight will join up with another in Dubai." (Common travel information)
"He managed to join the dots and figure out the mystery." (Common idiom)
10 Famous Quotes Using Join
“If you can’t beat them, join them.” — Common Proverb (A widely used saying about adapting to dominant forces rather than resisting them.)
**“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow Americans: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth, God’s work must truly be our own.” — John F. Kennedy, 1961 Inaugural Address (While the word “join” isn’t in this excerpt, it’s commonly paraphrased and quoted as “Let us join together…” or “Join the cause…” in civic rhetoric influenced by this speech.)
“When you join people together, even those who are not natural allies, you can accomplish great things.” — Cory Booker (On coalition-building and cross-party unity.)
“Join the community of saints and know the power of love and forgiveness.” — Desmond Tutu (On spiritual unity and healing.)
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. Join with others who are also willing to act.” — Mother Teresa (A call to collective action and shared service.)
“I didn’t join the army to shoot people. I joined the army to serve my country.” — Major General Smedley Butler (A critical quote about military service and ethics.)
“When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” — Ethiopian Proverb (often paraphrased as: “Join together and we are strong”) (A metaphor for collective power and unity.)
“We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” — Benjamin Franklin (A call for unity during the American Revolution, often interpreted as encouragement to join together.)
“Join with those who sing songs, tell stories, enjoy life, because happiness is contagious.” — Paulo Coelho (Encouraging connection for emotional well-being.)
“You don't join a movement. You become the movement.” — Angela Davis (On the transformation that comes from committing to justice and activism.)
Etymology
The word "join" has a straightforward and ancient lineage, tracing its roots back to the idea of bringing things together, often with a physical connection.
It ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root *yewg- (a reconstructed word, meaning linguists have inferred its existence). This ancient root meant "to join," "to unite," or "to yoke" (like putting a yoke on oxen to link them together).
From this PIE root, it evolved into the Latin verb "iungere," which also meant "to join together, unite, or yoke."
This Latin word then made its way into Old French as "joindre" or "juindre," maintaining the core meaning of "to connect" or "to unite."
Finally, "joindre" was adopted into Middle English (around the late 13th century, specifically by 1297). At that time, its first known meaning in English was "to unite (things) into a whole, combine, or put or bring together." It could also mean "to unite" in an intransitive sense (for things to come together themselves). The meanings related to becoming a member of a group or accompanying someone developed a bit later, but the core idea of connection has always been central to "join."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Join
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "join," supplemented as needed:
Join forces: To unite or combine efforts with someone.
Join the club: An expression indicating that someone is experiencing a common problem or situation.
Join the ranks: To become a member of a particular group or organization.
Join hands: To unite in cooperation or solidarity.
Join in: To participate in an activity with others.
Join the dots: To understand how different facts or ideas are connected.
Join the conversation: To begin participating in a discussion.
To merge efforts: To combine actions or work together. (Synonymous with "join forces")
To link up with: To connect with someone or something. (Synonymous with "join")
Become one with: To fully integrate or unite with something. (Original phrase, emphasizing deep joining)
Plug in: To connect to a system or group, often implying active participation. (Metaphorical, similar to joining a network)
Team up: To combine with others for a common purpose. (Synonymous phrase)
Fall in line: To conform to rules or expectations, often by joining a group. (Idiom, implies joining a collective action)
Bridge the gap: To connect two disparate things or groups. (Metaphorical, implies joining)
Weave together: To combine disparate elements into a cohesive whole. (Original phrase, highlighting intricate joining)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of join from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
