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

On Thursday, Mnuchin also repeated the administration’s support for bipartisan legislation to tighten scrutiny over foreign investments in the US and attach it to a must-pass defense spending bill. — Saleha Mohsin, BostonGlobe.com, "US, China may talk amid escalating trade threats," 13 July 2018 But the most useful addition may be the new ability to simply leave a comment, without attaching it to a specific pin. — Jacob Kastrenakes, The Verge, "Pinterest adds a chat tool for collaborative planning boards," 11 July 2018 Shifting directly to science, the researchers created a bullet-point list of scientific achievements and randomly attached it to a male or female name. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Why Curie’s no Einstein: A subtle gender bias in science," 29 June 2018 Upstairs, the sunroom is designed for lounging and is attached to a work space. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Cool Japanese house is half home, half greenhouse," 29 June 2018 In other words, Heap is recommending Hurst and Andrews attach themselves to veteran players and ask questions. — Mike Preston, baltimoresun.com, "Preston: Todd Heap looks forward to Ravens' new look at tight end with Hayden Hurst, Mark Andrews," 28 June 2018 Witnesses at the Gunfighter Skies Air & Space Celebration had said Buchanan appeared to have lost control of his glider at 1:38 p.m. after the plane clipped the cable, which was attached to a winch trailer pulled by the truck. — John Sowell, idahostatesman, "Comedy routine that went awry led to pilot's death at Mountain Home airshow, report says," 26 June 2018 The tourism tax break bill had stalled in the House before the Senate Finance Committee attached it to the jet bill. — Ben Brasch, ajc, "Bankruptcy means wake-up call for field of dreams at Cobb-Bartow line," 14 June 2018 Ava Duvernay is attached to the upcoming New Gods movie, and Cathy Yan is leading a Harley Quinn spin-off starring Margot Robbie. — Julyssa Lopez, Glamour, "Marvel's Black Widow Movie Will Have a Female Director," 13 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.

History and Etymology for attach

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

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

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Dictionary Entries near attach

Statistics for attach

Last Updated

13 Oct 2018

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