attach

verb

at·tach | \ ə-ˈtach

attached; attaching; attaches

Definition of attach

transitive verb

1 : to take by legal authority especially under a writ attached the property

2a : to bring (oneself) into an association attached herself to their cause

b : to assign (an individual or unit in the military) temporarily

3 : to bind by personal ties (as of affection or sympathy) was strongly attached to his family

4 : to make fast (as by tying or gluing) attach a label to a package

5 : to associate especially as a property or an attribute : ascribe attached great importance to public opinion polls

6 : to include and send (a separate document or file) with an electronic message (such as an e-mail or text message) Unlike … some other social networking hubs, Beejive allows you to attach photos or videos to a message, or download files from messages, just as you would via e-mail.— Bob Tedeschi

intransitive verb

: to become attached : adhere

Other Words from attach Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about attach

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Synonyms & Antonyms for attach

Synonyms

affix, bend, fasten, fix

Antonyms

detach, undo, unfasten, unhook

Choose the Right Synonym for attach

fasten, fix, attach, affix mean to make something stay firmly in place. fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing. fasten the reins to a post fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding. fixed the stake in the ground attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together. attach the W-2 form here affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing. affix your address label here

Examples of attach in a Sentence

I've attached an application to the brochure for you. She attached a note to the package. I attached the file to the e-mail. The handle attaches here on the top.

Recent Examples on the Web

One tower has a ladder and catwalk attached to it that the performers can use to scamper skyward and out of sight. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "By the numbers: What it takes to make Cirque’s ‘Luzia’ happen," 6 June 2019 Since Trump is only unintentionally amusing, the latter term is the one that is best applied to him, but not by anyone attached to the Irish government—not in public, anyway. — John Cassidy, The New Yorker, "A Gobshite American President in Ireland," 6 June 2019 The camera was found when an employee was cleaning the restroom, where it was attached to the underside of a toilet lid. — Micah Walker, Detroit Free Press, "Hidden camera found inside Starbucks bathroom in Allen Park," 4 June 2019 Silencers Silencers, or suppressors, limit the sound, muzzle flash and kickback of a gunshot when they are attached to the barrel of a handgun or rifle. — NBC News, "Virginia Beach shooter killed 12 using silencer and high-capacity magazine. Now, lawmakers might look at both.," 4 June 2019 In The Sopranos, the mob boss’s office, located in the back of a pork market, likely wouldn’t have carried the same gravitas had it been attached to a cupcake shop. — Diane Stopyra, Marie Claire, "Let Them Eat Cake (And Whatever Else They Want)," 24 May 2019 Use a Solid Headboard Go for a solid headboard without perforations and make sure it's attached to the bed. — Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "12 Feng Shui Tips to Create the Bedroom of Your Dreams," 17 May 2019 It has been argued that Verdon, in fact, deserved equal credit with Fosse for some of his projects, including ones to which she was not officially attached. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "The True Story of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon's Relationship," 17 Apr. 2019 How To Jump You’ll be attached via harness to an instructor who will do all the hard parts for you. — Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "How To Go Skydiving for the First Time," 5 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'attach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near attach

Statistics for attach

Last Updated

9 Jun 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for attach

The first known use of attach was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for attach

attach

verb

English Language Learners Definition of attach

: to fasten or join one thing to another

: to be or become joined or connected

: to associate or connect one thing with another

See the full definition for attach in the English Language Learners Dictionary

attach

verb

at·tach | \ ə-ˈtach

attached; attaching

Kids Definition of attach

1 : to fasten or join one thing to another The boy attached a bell to his bicycle.

2 : to bind by feelings of affection … Marty's got awful attached to that dog …— Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh

3 : to think of as belonging to something Attach no importance to his remark.

attach

verb

at·tach

Legal Definition of attach

transitive verb

1 : to obtain a court order against (property of another person) that directs an officer of the court (as a sheriff) to seize or take control of the property — compare garnish, levy

Note: A plaintiff may attach a defendant's property as a way of obtaining jurisdiction for the purpose of bringing a lawsuit or to prevent the defendant from getting rid of property that may be needed to pay a judgment to the plaintiff.

2 : to join or make a part of affidavits attached to the suit— Rosalind Resnick

3 : to create a security interest in (property) and so acquire the right to foreclose on or otherwise deal with property for payment of a debt and to exercise one's rights in the property against third parties — see also security interest at interest sense 1 — compare perfect

intransitive verb

: to become effective: as

a : to come into existence as a security interest from the date the interest attaches

b : to become operative especially as a right the right to counsel attaches only at or after the initiation of adversary judicial proceedings — United States v. Gouveia, 467 U.S. 180 (1984) — see also jeopardy