lexicow

unite

/juːˈnaɪt//juːˈnaɪt/·verb

to join together into one, or to act as one for a shared cause

I watch eight figures standing scattered and alone across the ground. One by one they move in and take a place around a circle, and as the last arrives they reach out and join hands, closing the ring with no gap left. The space they hold between them lights up. Apart, each was only a figure; hand in hand, they make a single ring that stands as one.
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Definition

To unite is for separate people, groups, or parts to come together and act as one — from the Latin unus, 'one'. A crisis unites a divided nation; scattered rebels unite behind a leader; two kingdoms unite under one crown. The word carries a charge of solidarity: those who unite often stay distinct yet stand together, as the 'United' in United Nations shows. To unify is to make one cohesive whole; to unite is to join forces — to combine strength while keeping your own name.

Examples

  • The threat of famine united the rival clans behind a single plan.
  • Thirteen colonies chose to unite into one federal republic.
  • Supporters of every team united to demand the old stadium be saved.

Collocations

unite against· unite behind· unite in· a united front· join forces

Synonyms

unify· join· combine· merge· consolidate

Antonyms

divide· split· separate

Word family

unity (noun)· union (noun)· united (adjective)

In TOEFL & IELTS

Keep unite and unify apart: you unite people who stay distinct but act together (unite against a threat, unite behind a leader), while you unify a system or vision into one cohesive whole. The prepositions carry the meaning — unite against, behind, in, or with. Note the two nouns: unity (the state of being one and harmonious) and union (the act of joining, or an organized body such as a trade union).

FAQ

What is the difference between unite and unify?
You unite people or groups who stay distinct but act together for a cause — 'the crisis united the villages'. You unify parts into one cohesive whole, so the separateness ends — 'a single currency unified the region's markets'. Quick test: you unite people, you unify a system or a vision. Unite stresses solidarity; unify stresses becoming one.
Is it 'unite against', 'unite behind', or 'unite in'?
Each preposition sets the sense. Unite against a shared enemy or threat; unite behind a leader, plan, or cause you rally to support; unite in a shared state or action — united in grief, united in calling for reform. You can also unite with another group. The choice of preposition tells the reader what the union is for.
Why is it 'the United States' — is 'united' an adjective?
Yes — 'united' is the past participle of unite used as an adjective, meaning 'joined into one': a united front, the United Nations, the United Kingdom. It traces to Latin unus, 'one', so the name literally says 'the states joined into one'. The same form gives 'they stood united' after a linking verb.
What is the difference between 'unity' and 'union'?
Unity is the state of being one or in harmony — 'a rare moment of national unity'. Union is the act or result of joining, or an organized body formed by it — 'the union of the two firms', 'a trade union', 'the European Union'. Roughly: unity is the feeling of oneness, a union is the thing that joining creates.
How do you pronounce unite?
yoo-NITE (/juːˈnaɪt/) — it opens with a 'you' sound, not 'oo', and the stress falls on the second syllable. The silent final -e makes the i say its own name, so it rhymes with 'ignite' and 'invite'. A common slip is the flat 'OO-neet'; keep the yod glide and the second-syllable stress.
What does 'united we stand, divided we fall' mean?
That people who stay together are strong, while a group that splits apart is easily beaten — strength lies in solidarity. The scene above is the proverb in one image: the arcs mean nothing on their own, but united into a ring they finally hold. The line is old — it echoes an Aesop fable and John Dickinson's 1768 'Liberty Song'.