attach

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verb at·tach \ ə-ˈtach \

Definition of attach

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

—

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

Yet some frills could be attached to make either more appealing.

— The Economist, "The six flavours of Brexit," 22 July 2017
This box of doughnuts, shipped from LaMar’s corporate offices in Denver to a company called Near Space Ballooning in western Iowa, was attached to a high-altitude weather balloon on June 28.

— eric adler, kansascity, "Video: LaMar’s Donuts launches box of sugary toroids into ‘outer space’," 19 July 2017
Attached to one of the beams is a dainty iron chandelier with curved arms and crystals dangling from them, a soft touch to its cabin-like architecture.

— madeleine winer, The Courier-Journal, "Tuscan lodge in Goshen pairs grandeur with comfort," 13 July 2017
In April, the last time Congress had an important must-pass spending bill, the health reform measure was pushed aside. The health reform bill is attached to a budget for the 2017 fiscal year.

— margot sanger-katz, New York Times, "Congress Is Facing a Time Crunch to Repeal Obamacare," 10 July 2017
Some pieces attached themselves to one of the devil’s larger chromosomes—

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Rogue chromosome may be behind new contagious cancer striking Tasmanian devils," 10 July 2017
Shaub took to Twitter to announce his resignation, attaching a photo of his resignation letter.

— lily herman, Teen Vogue, "Walter Shaub, Director of Office of Government Ethics, Just Resigned," 6 July 2017
Meanwhile, a tantalizing but extremely unconfirmed detail began to attach itself to the meme.

— abby ohlheiser, chicagotribune.com, "The Reddit user behind Trump's CNN meme apologized, but now CNN is facing backlash," 5 July 2017
The volunteers will pull them up periodically to see if any free-floating oyster spat attach themselves to the shells and begin growing.

— wayne parry, The Seattle Times, "‘Oyster wranglers’ scout rivers for signs of shellfish life," 4 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

attach Synonyms

Synonyms

affix, fasten, bend, fix

Antonyms

detach, undo, unfasten, unhook

Related Words

adhere, bolt, cinch, clamp, clasp, clench, clinch, clip, glue, hang, harness, hasp, lace, lash, latch, nail, paste, pin, plaster, rivet, screw, shackle, staple, stick, strap, tack, tackle, tie, toggle, yoke; coapt, connect, join, link, unite; reaffix, reattach, refasten, refix, resecure; batten, belay, button, do up

Near Antonyms

break up, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, separate, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke; loose, loosen; unbind, unfix, unlash, untie

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

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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

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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

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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