ENGLISH
REFERENCE

attach

v.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //əˈtætʃ// UK //ɐtˈætʃ// at·tach Academic Archaic General-service

v. to join or connect one thing to another. You often use this when sending a file with an email or fixing a document to a wall.

v. to fasten, join, or connect one object to another. Transitive — requires a direct object and frequently takes the preposition 'to'.


SIMPLE

Please attach the photo to your application.

CONTEXTUAL

You should attach the receipt to the expense report before submitting it to the finance office.

COMPLEX

The legal team will attach the signed affidavits to the main motion to ensure the judge has all the necessary evidence before the hearing begins.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English attachen, from Old French atachier, variant of estachier (“bind”), derived from estache (“stick”), from Frankish stakkā, stakō (“stick”), from Proto-Germanic *stakô (“pole, bar, stick, stake”). Doublet of attack. More at stake, stack. Displaced native Old English þīedan.

Usage

The verb is transitive and typically takes the preposition 'to' when indicating the destination of the attachment.

Pitfall

I attached with the fileI attached the fileAttach is transitive and requires a direct object; do not use a preposition between the verb and the item being joined.

© 2026 English Reference