coalesce

verb

co·​a·​lesce ˌkō-ə-ˈles 

coalesced; coalescing

intransitive verb

1

: to grow together

The edges of the wound coalesced.

2

a

: to unite into a whole : fuse

separate townships have coalesced into a single, sprawling colony

—Donald Gould

b

: to unite for a common end : join forces

people with different points of view coalesce into opposing factions

—I. L. Horowitz

3

: to arise from the combination of distinct elements

an organized and a popular resistance immediately coalesced

—C. C. Menges

transitive verb

: to cause to unite

sometimes a book coalesces a public into a mass market

—Walter Meade

coalescence

ˌkō-ə-ˈle-sᵊn(t)s 

noun

coalescent

ˌkō-ə-ˈle-sᵊnt 

adjective

Did you know?

The meaning of many English words equals the sum of their parts, and coalesce is a fitting example. The word unites the prefix co- (“together”) and the Latin verb alescere, meaning “to grow.” Coalesce is one of a number of English verbs (along with mix, commingle, merge, and amalgamate) that refer to the act of combining parts into a whole. In particular, coalesce usually implies the merging of similar parts to form a cohesive unit, such as a political ideology, a fan-following, or (perish the thought) a Portuguese man-of-war, the body of which includes three types of zooids.

Synonyms

• combine
• unite

Choose the Right Synonym for coalesce

mix, mingle, commingle, blend, merge, coalesce, amalgamate, fuse mean to combine into a more or less uniform whole.

mix may or may not imply loss of each element's identity.

mix the salad greens

mix a drink

mingle usually suggests that the elements are still somewhat distinguishable or separately active.

fear mingled with anticipation in my mind

commingle implies a closer or more thorough mingling.

a sense of duty commingled with a fierce pride drove her

blend implies that the elements as such disappear in the resulting mixture.

blended several teas to create a balanced flavor

merge suggests a combining in which one or more elements are lost in the whole.

in his mind reality and fantasy merged

coalesce implies an affinity in the merging elements and usually a resulting organic unity.

telling details that coalesce into a striking portrait

amalgamate implies the forming of a close union without complete loss of individual identities.

refugees who were readily amalgamated into the community

fuse stresses oneness and indissolubility of the resulting product.

a building in which modernism and classicism are fused

Examples of coalesce in a Sentence

a group of young reformers who gradually coalesced into a political movement

The ice masses coalesced into a glacier over time.

Recent Examples on the Web

After being arrested by ICE agents last week while volunteering at immigration court, nearly all the Democratic candidates coalesced around him. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025

The party's progressive wing, meanwhile, had coalesced behind Mamdani. —Anthony Izaguirre The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 25 June 2025

The Democratic pushback is also coalescing around efforts in both chambers to reassert congressional war powers. —Nik Popli, Time, 24 June 2025

Natchez ultimately coalesces around three principal figures, all of whom represent different aspects of life in the city. —Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin coalescere, from co- + alescere to grow — more at old

First Known Use

circa 1541, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for coalesce

• abs
• acquiesce
• ancestress
• authoress
• decompress
• dispossess
• faithfulness
• letterpress
• mayoress
• murderess
• nonetheless
• overstress

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Kids Definition

coalesce

verb

co·​alesce

ˌkō-ə-ˈles

coalesced; coalescing

1

: to grow together

the ends of the broken bones coalesced

2

: to unite into a whole : fuse

coalescence

-ˈles-ᵊn(t)s

noun

Medical Definition

coalesce

intransitive verb

co·​alesce ˌkō-ə-ˈles 

coalesced; coalescing

: to grow together

coalescence

-ˈles-ᵊn(t)s 

noun