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to unify

to unify

65 3.7
To bring people or things together into one group
  • verb
  • /ˈjunəˌfaɪ/
translation icon : unificar
  • But they've made us stronger; they've unified us by removing the inequalities that kept us apart.
  • unify the country
  • unify the nation
  • unify cultures

And why don't we all unify and how come we can't get along?

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Examples

  • The power of music once again proved it could unify and promote goodwill.

  • Proximity to nature becomes highly valued as a spiritual bond that unifies each community.

    Academic text (1999)
  • All I have done is try to unify this land.

  • Please unify us and make us whole.

  • So for many reasons, the natural thing is for Americans to unify under some banner.

  • Insiders of both camps say the challenge now, heading into the fall campaign, will be to unify this very divided Democratic Party.

  • The power of music once again proved it could unify and promote goodwill.

  • But after the decision, people would unify behind that decision to make it successful.

  • All I have done is try to unify this land.

Synonyms

to unite
vsto unify
2.1

To join people or things into one group for a shared purpose

focuses more on forming a single unit rather than only shared aims
to join
vsto unify
1.0

Connect two things so they become attached

is about forming a complete single unit rather than simple connection
to combine
vsto unify
638 2.7

To mix two or more things into one

emphasizes creating a united whole rather than just mixing elements
to merge
vsto unify
192 3.2

To join two or more things so they become one

stresses creating one whole often from distinct existing parts
to consolidate
vsto unify
50 4.7

To join several things into one whole

focuses on unity generally, not specifically on increased effectiveness
to pull together
vsto unify
50 3.4

Gather people or things and organize them to reach a goal

is about creating a single whole rather than just organising for action
to coalesce
vsto unify
15 7.4

Come together to form one group or whole

implies an active process of making a unit rather than simply joining
to amalgamate
vsto unify
  • Formal
4 7.4

To join several groups or parts to make one

is broader, covering unity without necessarily forming a new structure
3 3.4

To make a group feel part of the same community

aims at forming a single unit rather than focusing on group feeling
to knit together
vsto unify
2 3.9

Make people or groups work closely together as one

covers unity generally, not necessarily the close, woven cohesion implied here
to draw together
vsto unify
1 3.5

To make people feel united by a shared goal or feeling

emphasises forming one functional unit rather than emotional or purposive unity

Antonyms

680 1.1

To split something into parts or groups

1 7.0

To cause people or groups to separate

1 7.9

To make a group that was together become divided

How United

to unify
65 3.7
to merge
192 3.2
to integrate
179 4.1
join
11 2.9
to associate
104 3.6

Surface Forms

unify infinitive
unified past
unified past participle
unifying present participle
unifies third person singular

Morphology

unify = unit (transparent) = uni + unit + fy

The verb's meaning 'make one' is directly derived from the sense of 'unit' (one) plus the productive verb-forming suffix '-fy' ('make/cause').

Etymology

The word unify comes from the parts uni- meaning 'one' and -fy meaning 'make'. Just like in unit, which names a single part, to unify is to 'make into one' and bring parts together into a whole.