Words / B2

yoo-NYT/juˈnaɪt/

To unite is to come or bring together for a shared purpose: unite against; unite behind; the United Kingdom. Unify is closer to making systems one. Join is everyday. Do not mix United as a football club with the verb. Politics: unite the party; unions unite against a bill.

Meaning

To come or bring together for a shared purpose.

Examples

• “Unions united against the proposed fire-and-rehire contracts.”
• “The speech failed to unite colleagues behind the timetable.”

Good to know

unite against / behind / in. Close: unify (make into one system). Everyday: join. Politics/labour. Country name: United. Not a football result.

Near in meaning

unify

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