English Reference
verb

unite

v.
US /ˈjuˌnaɪt/ UK /juːnˈaɪt/ unite UK spelling unites

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    to join two or more things or groups together to make them one.

    to join or combine separate parts, groups, or entities into a single, cohesive whole. Often used transitively with a direct object.

    Simple

    The two small companies decided to unite to form a much larger business.

    In context

    The treaty aimed to unite the fractured provinces under a single administrative framework, though local resistance remained significant.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    to act together with other people to achieve something.

    to act in concert or agreement for a common purpose or against a common adversary. Often functions as an intransitive verb.

    Simple

    The community must unite if we want to save the local park from being closed.

    In context

    The various political factions managed to unite against the proposed legislation, setting aside their ideological differences for the duration of the campaign.

Well, of course, in the long term, Ireland will be united.” Such a process would be, he added, “a long process where people have got to come together and find a way of agreeing.

The Guardian· 29 Aug 2026

Tonight we are one united Republican party,” he said.

The Guardian· 19 Aug 2026

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ís? Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos Proto-Italic *oinos Old Latin oinos Latin ūnus Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Latin -iō Latin ūniō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Latin ūnītuslbor. Middle English uniten English unite From Middle English uniten, from Latin ūnītus, perfect passive participle of ūniō.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin ūnītus
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated