unite
gb/jˈunˌaɪt/ us/jˈunˌaɪt/
B2
English
~ 5400
egyesít, egyesül, összefog, egységes, összeköt
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to unite [people/things] (into/into one/as) [group/organization]
The new president promised to unite the country after years of conflict.
Az új elnök megígérte, hogy az évekig tartó viszály után újra egységbe kovácsolja az országot.
The two companies decided to unite to compete with larger rivals.
A két vállalat úgy döntött, hogy egyesül, hogy fel tudja venni a versenyt a nagyobb riválisokkal.
Community leaders are working to unite local groups into one strong organization.
The festival helps unite people from many different cultures.
Several small parties united to form a new political movement.
Learner examples
The teacher tried to unite the class for the project.
A tanár megpróbálta összefogni az osztályt a projekthez.
The small towns united and became one city.
A kisvárosok egyesültek, és egy várossá váltak.
We must unite as a team to win.
These three clubs united to make one big club.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"We are unite"* when they mean *"We unite"* (present simple verb) or *"We are united"* (adjective describing a state). Another issue is overusing *"unite"* instead of the more common verb *"join";* for example, *"I united the club"* is wrong, and should be *"I joined the club."* Both *"unite"* and *"unite together"* are heard, but *"unite"* alone is usually enough.
Meaning
bring people or things together
Collocations
unite the country
|unite the party
|unite the family
|unite into one
|unite as a team
|unite with others
Synonyms
join (more general; can mean simply becoming part of a group and may not always suggest forming a single whole)
|
bring together (highlights the act of putting people or things in one place or group, without necessarily stressing long-term unity)
|
unify (slightly more formal; often used for making systems, laws, or organizations into one consistent whole)
Antonyms
divide (highlights creating separation or disagreement between people or groups)
|
split (suggests breaking one group into parts, often after conflict or disagreement)
|
separate (focuses on keeping people or things apart rather than bringing them together)
Themes
society
|politics
|business
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
to bring people or things together so they act or exist as one group
To bring separate people, groups, or things together so that they form one group, organization, or whole.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to be united in/around/by/behind/against [feeling/aim/person]
The team was united in its desire to win the championship.
A csapatot összekötötte a vágy, hogy megnyerje a bajnokságot.
Families across the city united in grief after the accident.
A baleset után városszerte közös gyász kötötte össze a családokat.
The workers quickly united against the new policy.
The party is united behind its new leader.
Fans around the world are united by their love of the game.
Learner examples
We are united in our wish for peace.
Összeköt bennünket a béke iránti vágy.
The workers united against the new rule.
A dolgozók összefogtak az új szabály ellen.
The class united behind their friend.
People in the town united in fear after the big fire.
Common mistake:
Learners often use *"agree"* when *"unite"* or *"be united"* would be more natural for strong shared feeling or action, for example, *"We are all united in wanting change"* rather than just *"We all agree."* Prepositions also cause trouble: we usually say *"united in"* (a feeling), *"united against"* (something we oppose), or *"united behind"* (a leader or plan), not *"united on"* or *"united for"* in these cases.
Meaning
share the same feeling or goal
Collocations
unite against crime
|unite in their opposition
|unite behind their leader
|unite around a common goal
|unite in grief
|unite by a shared love
Synonyms
stand together (emphasizes emotional or moral support within a group, especially in difficult situations)
|
pull together (more informal; focuses on people working cooperatively, especially to solve a problem)
|
be of one mind (more formal or literary; stresses complete agreement in opinion)
Antonyms
be divided (stresses lack of agreement or unity of purpose within a group)
|
disagree (focuses on holding different opinions rather than sharing one feeling or goal)
|
split (suggests a group breaking apart because people no longer share the same view or purpose)
Themes
society
|emotions
|politics
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
to share the same feeling, idea, or goal with other people and act together
To have or show the same feeling, opinion, or purpose as others, so that you are closely together in attitude or support.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
egyesül
B2
Usage pattern:
to unite [substance] with [substance] (to form [compound])
Hydrogen unites with oxygen to form water.
A hidrogén oxigénnel egyesül, és vizet alkot.
Under high pressure, the gases unite to create a solid compound.
Nagy nyomás alatt a gázok egyesülnek, és szilárd vegyületet hoznak létre.
These two elements unite readily at high temperatures.
Learner examples
Hydrogen unites with oxygen to make water.
A hidrogén oxigénnel egyesül, és víz keletkezik.
In this experiment, two gases unite to form a liquid.
Ebben a kísérletben két gáz egyesül, és folyadék keletkezik.
The metals unite and become a new material.
Common mistake:
Some learners try to use this technical sense in everyday situations where *"mix"* or *"combine"* is more natural; outside science, native speakers rarely talk about things *"uniting"* in this strict chemical way.
Meaning
chemically combine into one substance
Collocations
unite with oxygen
|unite with hydrogen
|unite to form
|atoms unite
|molecules unite
Synonyms
combine (general scientific term; does not always suggest forming a completely new compound)
|
react (focuses on the process of chemical change, not just joining)
|
bond (emphasizes the formation of chemical bonds between atoms or molecules)
Antonyms
separate (general opposite; to cause a combined substance to come apart into its original components)
|
break down (used when a compound splits into simpler substances)
|
dissociate (technical term for molecules or ions splitting apart in solution)
Themes
science
|chemistry
Definition
in science, to mix substances so they join and become one new substance
In science, to combine two or more substances so that they form a single chemical compound.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unite
IPA
GB/jˈunˌaɪt/
US/jˈunˌaɪt/
Syllables & stress
unite (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (unite)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: unite
- 3rd Person Singular: unites
- Present Participle: uniting
- Past: united
Word family
Expressions
unite against
1/jˈunˌaɪt əɡˈɛnst/
fixed phrase
join together to oppose something
to come together with other people to fight or stop something you all do not want
Examples
- Local residents decided to unite against the planned airport expansion.
- Several environmental groups united against the new mining project.
unite as one
1/jˈunˌaɪt ˈæz wˈʌn/
fixed phrase
come together as a single group
to come together and act like a single group instead of many separate people or parts
Examples
- In times of crisis, we must unite as one.
- The coach told the players to unite as one before the final match.
unite behind
1/jˈunˌaɪt bɪhˈaɪnd/
fixed phrase
join together to support someone
to come together to give strong support to one person, plan, or idea
Examples
- The party finally united behind its new leader.
- Fans united behind the team after the difficult loss.
unite in marriage
1/jˈunˌaɪt ˈɪn mˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
join two people in marriage
to make two people husband and wife (or spouses) in a formal wedding ceremony
Examples
- The couple were united in marriage in a small church ceremony.
- The priest said a few words before uniting them in marriage.
unite with
1/jˈunˌaɪt wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
join together with someone or something
to join another person, group, or thing so that you are together as one side or unit
Examples
- The small organization chose to unite with a larger charity.
- Several villages united with each other to improve local services.