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to connect to the internet

to connect to the internet

2 2.0
To make a computer or phone use the internet so it can send and receive data
  • phrasal verb
  • /kəˈnɛkt tə ði ˈɪntərˌnɛt/
  • Texting
translation icon : conectarse a internet
  • I want to connect to the internet.
  • a device connected to the internet

Phone, however, Oh, that connects to the Internet.

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Examples

  • Make sure you're connected to the internet!

    Blog text (25)
  • With those organizations, they have an internal IT infrastructure that must never be connected to the internet.

    Blog text (15)
  • Every time I click on it, it says I am not connected to the internet when I clearly am.

    Blog text (19)
  • Is our air traffic system connected to the internet?

    Blog text (19)
  • More and more people are connected to the internet in more and more places at ever higher speeds.

    Blog text (25)
  • At the same time, I want to allow users to interact with the Win 8 app even when not connected to the internet.

    Blog text (30)
  • As business users increasingly find themselves connecting to the internet away from the office, the cloud and mobile devices grow ever more important.

    Blog text (32)
  • But I had trouble getting the Wii U connected to the internet.

    Blog text (17)
  • It has Wi-Fi, so I can connect to the Internet here by connecting to the Wi-Fi in the building.

  • When you connect to the internet, your device can send and receive data quickly.

Synonyms

to connect
vsto connect to the internet
445 2.7

Attach something to power or a network so it works

links specifically to the internet for data transfer rather than any connection
to jack in
vsto connect to the internet
  • Jargon
2 8.1

To connect to a computer system or network by logging on

establishes a link specifically with the internet for sending or receiving data
to link-up
vsto connect to the internet
  • Specialized
1 3.7

To connect devices or systems so they can work together

focuses on linking a device to the internet for data exchange not group coordination
to connect up
vsto connect to the internet
1 3.3

To join machines so they can share power or information using wires

is about making an online link to the internet not just direct device wiring

Antonyms

256 4.2

To keep someone or something apart from others

161 3.5

To separate something so it is no longer joined, for example remove a cable or turn off power

Surface Forms

Morphology

connect + to + the + Internet

The meaning is directly compositional: 'connect' (link/attach) combined with the directional preposition 'to' and 'the Internet' (the global network) yields the meaning 'establish a link to the Internet.' Function words do not obscure the sense and this construction is a common, cross-linguistic technical pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will understand it.

Etymology

Connect to the internet comes from the simple image of joining a device to a big web of computers: the word connect means to join and the internet is that web. Imagine plugging in a cable so your device can 'send or receive information' to others — that's why it means making a device go 'online'.