combined; combining
1
a
: to bring into such close relationship as to obscure individual characters : merge
two companies combining forces
b
: to cause to unite into a chemical compound
combining hydrofluoric acid with soda ash to form sodium fluoride
c
: to unite into a single number or expression
Combine fractions and simplify.
3
: to possess in combination
a writer whose works combine imagination and scholarship
1
a
: to become one
The two newspapers combined as the Chronicle.
b
: to unite to form a chemical compound
2
: to act together
Many factors combined to cause the recession.
Wolves combine in their hunt for deer.
combiner
noun
plural combines
1
a
: a combination especially of business or political interests
… Grumman Corp. lost the advanced tactical aircraft contract to the combine of McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics.—
George J. Church
George J. Church
b
: an event at which scouts from the teams in a professional sports league gather to evaluate players in preparation for choosing which players to draft
a scouting combine
Every spring the National Football League conducts that most cherished of American rituals, the college draft. A couple of months before the event, prospective players show off their abilities in an athletic audition known as the combine.—Carl Zimmer
Carl Zimmer2
: a harvesting machine that heads, threshes, and cleans grain while moving over a field
combined; combining
: to harvest with a combine
: to combine a crop
Synonyms
Examples of combine in a Sentence
Noun
The teams belong to a combine that scouts new players.
charged that the cable companies had formed an illegal combine for the purpose of keeping rates artificially high
Recent Examples on the WebJennifer Creery, Fortune Europe, 23 Apr. 2024
The Kings have a lot to repair after watching Zach Hyman score a hat trick while Connor McDavid and defenseman Evan Bouchard combined for nine assists.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Rosengarten, the Highlands Ranch native and 2024 NFL Draft prospect, had arrived at the NFL combine in Indianapolis not long before.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2024
That lactic acid combines with the calcium present in the aging cheese to form crystals.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 23 Apr. 2024
George Shultz combined years as an academic and as a successful business leader with service in four cabinet-level positions—as secretary of state, labor, and the treasury and as director of the Office of Management and Budget.
—Philip Taubman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The push to get regular coverage on network TV combined with Korda’s historic run could be the boost the sport needs.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
Tim Leibold picked up possession in the midfield and passed to Alan Pulido, who combined for a sweet give-and-go that put Pulido in on goal.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
Every dish is a mandate of contrasting textures and flavors, and to that end many of those components needed to be combined at the very last minute.
—Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson Wiggins’ 4.28 40-yard dash time was the fastest among defensive players at the combine.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2024
That puts him in a unique position among all the top prospects gathered in Indianapolis this week for the league’s scouting combine.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
Both would be strong times for the defensive back who measured in at 5-10 and 209 pounds at the combine in Indianapolis last month.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Alt cemented his elite status at the combine in Indy.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
General manager John Lynch defended Feliciano to reporters at the NFL scouting combine, so re-signing Feliciano is an option, but so is the possibility of bringing in an upgrade.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024
The combine has been in Indianapolis since 1987, though there is frequent discussion of taking it to other cities, the way the NFL does with its draft.
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Jan. 2024
The new treat combine's Wendy’s vanilla Frosty with orange cream.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Verb
Lidl and Aldi combined now account for 18% of the UK’s grocery market.
—Jennifer Creery, Fortune Europe, 23 Apr. 2024
The Kings have a lot to repair after watching Zach Hyman score a hat trick while Connor McDavid and defenseman Evan Bouchard combined for nine assists.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Rosengarten, the Highlands Ranch native and 2024 NFL Draft prospect, had arrived at the NFL combine in Indianapolis not long before.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2024
That lactic acid combines with the calcium present in the aging cheese to form crystals.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 23 Apr. 2024
George Shultz combined years as an academic and as a successful business leader with service in four cabinet-level positions—as secretary of state, labor, and the treasury and as director of the Office of Management and Budget.
—Philip Taubman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The push to get regular coverage on network TV combined with Korda’s historic run could be the boost the sport needs.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
Tim Leibold picked up possession in the midfield and passed to Alan Pulido, who combined for a sweet give-and-go that put Pulido in on goal.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
Every dish is a mandate of contrasting textures and flavors, and to that end many of those components needed to be combined at the very last minute.
—Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
Cade Stover, Ohio State: All-around prospect who measured 6-4 and 247 at the combine.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson Wiggins’ 4.28 40-yard dash time was the fastest among defensive players at the combine.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2024
That puts him in a unique position among all the top prospects gathered in Indianapolis this week for the league’s scouting combine.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
Both would be strong times for the defensive back who measured in at 5-10 and 209 pounds at the combine in Indianapolis last month.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Alt cemented his elite status at the combine in Indy.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
General manager John Lynch defended Feliciano to reporters at the NFL scouting combine, so re-signing Feliciano is an option, but so is the possibility of bringing in an upgrade.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024
The combine has been in Indianapolis since 1987, though there is frequent discussion of taking it to other cities, the way the NFL does with its draft.
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Jan. 2024
The new treat combine's Wendy’s vanilla Frosty with orange cream.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'combine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near combine
Cite this Entry
“Combine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combine. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
combine
2 of 2 noun
com·bine
ˈkäm-ˌbīn 
1
: a union of persons or groups especially for business or political benefits
2
: a machine that harvests, threshes, and cleans grain while moving over a field
Medical Definition
combine
verb
com·bine
kəm-ˈbīn
combined; combining
: to cause to unite into a chemical compound
: to unite to form a chemical compound
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