attach

verb at·tach \ ə-ˈtach \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: attach in a Sentence

Definition of attach

attached; attaching; attaches

transitive verb

1 : to take by legal authority especially under a writ

attached the property

2 a : 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

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attachable

play \ə-ˈta-chə-bəl\ adjective

See attach defined for English-language learners

See attach defined for kids

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 of attach from the Web

There is also a stigma attached to the disease for older people because one of the main treatments is narcotics.

— andrea k. mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "Howard County family provides support for sickle cell disease patients," 11 July 2018
That's almost a quarter of the female population and yet there is still an incredible amount of stigma attached to women talking about their own abortions.

— abby gardner, Glamour, "Pro-Choice Organizations Launch the #OneInFour Campaign Ahead of President Trump's Supreme Court Nomination," 9 July 2018
Conversations about mental health are becoming more common, but there's still significant stigma attached to the topic.

— brooke bunce, Teen Vogue, "New York and Virginia to Require Mental Health Education," 3 July 2018
Maybe a significant gift — no strings attached and no naming rights involved — in a project in one of Louisville’s black neighborhoods, would be a good start.

— joseph gerth, The Courier-Journal, "Dear John: This breakup isn't about us, it's about you and the N-word," 12 July 2018
After the rescue, firefighters began sawing pieces of plywood and attached them to the house to discourage looters from breaking in, Smith said.

— perry vandell, azcentral, "Mesa woman rescued after tree crashes onto home during storm," 9 July 2018
More than 1,500 people qualified to receive portions of the fund, which are being given as gifts with no strings attached, fund stewards said.

— ron hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Parkland victims' fund distribution ranges from $400,000 to $1,000 each," 2 July 2018
Lowering benefits within ghettos Immigrants who settle in Denmark can claim benefits with few strings attached.

— billy perrigo, Time, "What to Know About Denmark's Controversial Plan to Eradicate Immigrant "Ghettos"," 2 July 2018
Sungame offered an unusual deal: For every $1,000 paid upfront, the company would send you an experimental tablet that could render content in 3D. A few weeks later, Sungame would send you back $1,500 as a rebate, no strings attached.

— russell brandom, The Verge, "‘Free tablet’ scammer will pay $2.8 million for rebate scheme," 1 July 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of attach

Middle English, from Anglo-French attacher, alteration of Old French estachier, from estache stake, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English staca stake

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

attach Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

ATTACH Defined for English Language Learners

attach

verb

Definition of attach for English Language Learners

: to fasten or join one thing to another
: to be or become joined or connected
: to associate or connect one thing with another

ATTACH Defined for Kids

attach

verb at·tach \ ə-ˈtach \

Definition of attach for Students

attached; attaching

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.

Law Dictionary

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 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

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attachable

adjective

—

attachment

noun

Origin and Etymology of attach

Anglo-French attacher to lodge (an action in court), seize (a person or property) by legal authority, from Old French atachier to fasten, fix, alteration of estachier, from estache stake