Word
merge
US/ˈmɝdʒ/
UK/mˈɜːdʒ/
Definitions
01to combine things
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to join two or more things together to form one single thing.
v. to combine or cause to combine to form a single entity.
“The two small companies decided to merge to become more competitive.”
“The board of directors voted to merge the two subsidiaries into a single entity to streamline operations and reduce overhead costs.”
02to blend gradually
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to change slowly until one thing becomes part of another.
v. to blend or disappear gradually into something else.
“The sea and the sky seemed to merge on the horizon.”
“In his later paintings, the sharp outlines of the figures begin to merge with the abstract background, creating a sense of fluid motion.”
03traffic
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to move into a different lane of traffic.
v. to move from one lane of traffic into another, or for two lanes of traffic to join together.
“You should check your mirror before you merge into the fast lane.”
“Drivers are encouraged to use both lanes until the point of closure and then merge alternately, a technique known as zipper merging.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'into'.
Synonyms
04joining together
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Technical
n. the act of joining two or more things together.
n. the act or instance of combining multiple sources or entities into one.
“The software update performs a merge of all your old files into the new system.”
“The developer initiated a code merge to integrate the new features from the experimental branch into the main project repository.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “merge” in context.
Verb
01. merge into the traffic
“Drivers must be cautious when they merge into the traffic on the busy motorway.”
verb + prep + noun
02. merge with a rival company
“The board of directors voted to merge with a rival company to increase their market share.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
03. seamlessly merge the two systems
“The new software update will seamlessly merge the two systems into a single interface.”
adv + verb + noun
Noun
04. decision to merge the entities
“The decision to merge the entities was driven by a need for greater operational efficiency.”
noun + infinitive
05. proposal to merge
“The shareholders are currently reviewing a proposal to merge with the international conglomerate.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
06. gradually merge into one
“As the sun set, the colors of the sky gradually merged into one deep shade of violet.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
07. successfully merge the departments
“The manager successfully merged the departments without any layoffs.”
adv + verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“On ordinary metal surfaces, small droplets often merge into a continuous film of water.” “Smaller droplets take longer to merge into raindrops, which can delay rainfall or shift it to another location downwind .” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin mergō (“to dip; dip in; plunge; sink down into; immerse; overwhelm”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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