connect
kuh-NEHKT
Connect (verb) means to join one thing to another, physically or electronically. Example: “Connect the cable to the back of the router.”
verb
1
To join one thing to another, physically or electronically.
"Connect the cable to the back of the router."
"The two buildings are connected by an underground tunnel."
"The plumber will connect the new washing machine to the water supply tomorrow."
2
To establish a relationship or association between people, ideas, or things.
"The therapist helped her connect her anxiety to a childhood experience."
"It's hard to connect with someone you've only met online."
"Good teachers connect new ideas to things their pupils already know."
3
To transfer between one form of transport and another as part of the same journey.
"We land in Chicago and connect to a flight to Denver."
"If our train is late, we will miss the bus we need to connect with."
"Passengers heading north can connect to the express at the next station."
How to use connect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo join two things together, or to feel a bond or link between people or ideas.
Common pairings
connect with someone
connect to the internet
connecting flight
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Word forms
- Plural
- connects
- Third person singular
- connects
- Past tense
- connected
- Archaic forms
- connectest, connectedst, connecteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the cable to the back of the router.
Etymology
From Latin "connectere," meaning "to fasten together," from "con-" ("together") and "nectere" ("to bind") — a distant relative of "knot" and "knit."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for connect
See all rhymes for connect →Frequently asked questions
What does “connect” mean?
The word “connect” means to join one thing to another, physically or electronically. In plain terms, to join two things together, or to feel a bond or link between people or ideas.
How do you pronounce “connect”?
“Connect” is pronounced kuh-NEHKT (/kəˈnɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “connect” in a sentence?
Here is “connect” used in a sentence: “Connect the cable to the back of the router.”
What is the opposite of “connect”?
The opposite of “connect” — its antonyms — is disconnect.
What part of speech is “connect”?
“Connect” is a verb.
Where does the word “connect” come from?
The word “connect” comes from Latin. From Latin "connectere," meaning "to fasten together," from "con-" ("together") and "nectere" ("to bind") — a distant relative of "knot" and "knit.".
Is “connect” a common word?
“Connect” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “connect” have?
“Connect” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to join one thing to another, physically or electronically.
Do you say "connect to" or "connect with"?
Use "connect to" for physical and electronic links: "Connect the printer to the laptop," "I can't connect to the Wi-Fi." Use "connect with" for relationships and rapport between people: "She really connects with her students." Both are correct; the preposition follows the type of connection.
What is the difference between connect and link?
The two verbs overlap heavily; both mean to join things physically or to establish an association between them. Link often suggests a chain-like or evidential relationship, especially between pieces of information ("the study links diet to heart health"), while connect is the more general, everyday word for joining things or people.
Is "connect up" correct?
"Connect up" is an informal phrasal form meaning to join something to a system or supply: "The house isn't connected up to the mains yet." The "up" adds nothing essential, and plain "connect" is preferred in formal writing.
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