Skip to main content
to ally

to ally

45 3.6
To join with a person, group, or country for a common purpose
  • verb
  • /ˈælaɪ/
translation icon : aliarse con
  • The tribes who ally will win and expand; those who oppose will lose and contract.
  • ally with others
  • ally with the government
  • ally with other countries

We have a group of people who ally themselves with us.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • He sought to ally with Koyo, which declined but made their own moves.

  • I am trying to ally myself with her to let her know that I understand.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • We have a group of people who ally themselves with us.

  • In it, he agreed to ally with France in any future war against the Dutch.

  • You must not ally yourself with slavers.

  • We have decided to ally ourselves with the courageous King Bjorn.

  • What exactly do states gain from allying and what determines how the gains are allocated?

    Academic text (1990)
  • Ozal quickly seized the opportunity to fully ally himself with the anti-Iraq coalition.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Long and other Republicans were grudgingly willing to ally themselves with old-line Democrats if it translated into influence.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The countries decided to ally against the common threat of invasion.

Synonyms

to come together
vsto ally
274 2.7

Join with others to work for the same goal

emphasizes union for support or cause rather than simple collaboration
to partner
vsto ally
123 3.2

To join with someone to work on a business or other activity

is the act of uniting broadly, not limited to formal partnerships
to associate
vsto ally
104 3.6

To join with others to work for a common purpose

signals stronger, often committed union for a shared cause
to side with
vsto ally
96 3.6

Support a person or group in an argument

is the broader joining or uniting for a common purpose, not just arguments
to align
vsto ally
96 4.2

To agree with and support a group, cause, or way of thinking

is the act of joining or uniting more often for collective action
to team up
vsto ally
95 2.5

Join with other people or groups to work together on a goal

includes cooperation but also broader political or strategic support
to side
vsto ally
88 4.3

To support one person or group in a dispute

is wider, involving formal or informal joining beyond disputes
to stand with
vsto ally
84 2.9

Support a person, group, or cause during hard times

is the general act of uniting in support across situations
to join forces
vsto ally
57 3.4

To work together with others to achieve a common goal

covers joining in support more generally, not only coordinated work
to band together
vsto ally
34 3.1

Join with other people to work together for a common purpose

is a broader act of forming support bonds beyond a single group effort
to stand together
vsto ally
33 3.4

To join others to support the same cause

can apply to joining or supporting a cause in any situation
to rally around
vsto ally
30 4.1

To come together to support someone in a hard time

covers joining in support generally, not only in times of hardship
to consort with
vsto ally
  • Formal
12 7.9

Spend time with people others may disapprove of

is neutral joining for a common purpose without implied judgment
to ally with
vsto ally
12 4.0

To join with another person or group to work together for the same goal

is the general act of uniting for a common purpose rather than the formal phrase
to affiliate
vsto ally
12 4.8

To spend time with a group and appear to belong to it

focuses on deliberate union for a cause rather than casual association
to throw in with
vsto ally
  • Informal
6 5.8

To join and support a group or side

is about joining for mutual purpose, not just picking a side
to stand united
vsto ally
5 3.8

To come together and support the same cause

is the broader act of uniting, not only the public solidarity stance
to take sides with
vsto ally
1 4.0

Support one person or group in a disagreement

is about forming cooperative bonds rather than choosing sides in conflict
to league together
vsto ally
1 4.6

To join with others to reach a common goal

is the everyday idea of joining or supporting a shared cause

Antonyms

2.9

To be against something and try to stop it

1 7.0

To cause people or groups to separate

Phrasal Verbs

12 4.0

To join with another person or group to work together for the same goal

Compounds

2 3.4

A person, group, or country that gives strong and reliable help

1 2.8

A person or group that always supports another and can be trusted

1 3.9

A person, group, or country that strongly supports and stays loyal to another

fern ally
  • Specialized
8.6

Plants like clubmosses and horsetails that look like ferns but are not true ferns

How Aligned

to unite
2.1
to ally
45 3.6
to cooperate
543 3.3
assist
33 1.8

Surface Forms

ally infinitive
allied past
allied past participle
allying present participle
allies third person singular

Etymology

Ally as a verb comes from the same Latin root alligare, meaning 'to bind to'. Imagine tying your rope to someone else's — to ally is to join or unite with another person or group for a common purpose.