attach

verb

ə-ˈtach How to pronounce attach (audio)
Definition of attachnext
1
as in to affix
to cause (something) to hold to another you can attach the buttons to the puppet with fabric glue

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to appoint
to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty attached the colonel to the new regiment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to confiscate
to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority attached the house for nonpayment of property taxes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word attach distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of attach are affix, fasten, and fix. While all these words mean "to make something stay firmly in place," attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together.

attach the W-2 form here

When could affix be used to replace attach?

The words affix and attach can be used in similar contexts, but affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing.

affix your address label here

Where would fasten be a reasonable alternative to attach?

In some situations, the words fasten and attach are roughly equivalent. However, fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing.

fasten the reins to a post

When is it sensible to use fix instead of attach?

The synonyms fix and attach are sometimes interchangeable, but fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding.

fixed the stake in the ground

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of attach Besides Burton and Ishiguro, no other talent is attached at this time. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 But here, the keyboard is actually a Bluetooth peripheral attached by magnets. — Martin Cizmar, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The club will not accept clothing, loose bindings or other hardware not attached to a ski or snowboard. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Instead, captain Jared Spurgeon took the team’s new military-style helmet, complete with night-vision goggles attached, and delivered it to an appreciative Lorenz. — Michael Russo, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attach
  1. affix
  2. appoint
  3. confiscate
  4. nominate
  5. assign
  6. constitute
  7. designate
  8. name
Verb
  • Swank shared the news in a creative Instagram video of herself, husband Philip Schneider, and their three-year-old twins dancing in the dark with glow sticks affixed to their bodies.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Not far away is Lucas’s now iconic photograph Chicken Knickers (1997), showing a raw whole chicken affixed to the front of a woman’s underwear.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of affix
Verb
  • Santoyo, 72, was appointed by the state to the board of managers in 2016.
    — Sophia Veneziano, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • These decisions were informed by the Council on Ethics, an independent body appointed by Norway's Ministry of Finance.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of appoint
Verb
  • Police confiscated the robot and two cell phones belonging to the suspects.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The robot and the two young men's mobile phones were confiscated.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of confiscate
Verb
  • His films have gone to Cannes multiple times, and he has been nominated for an International Emmy.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For Boyd, being nominated is an opportunity to join some of the biggest names in South Florida high school football.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of nominate
Verb
  • The airman was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, out of Nellis Air Force Base.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • All registered voters were assigned a probability of voting to produce likely voter results.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of assign
Verb
  • But how much genetic change constitutes complete domestication?
    — Ornob Alam, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The three-tracker constitutes the California black metal crew’s first new music since last year’s Lonely People with Power.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of constitute
Verb
  • After the Minnesota Twins designated Trevor Megill for assignment in April 2023, the Brewers acquired the reliever for Taylor Floyd, who hasn't appeared in a major league game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Boucher said the California couple designated her as their spokesperson and wished to remain anonymous.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of designate
Verb
  • Opening her case, Karmy-Jones walked through the allegations from the six women, who have a lifelong right to anonymity even though they are being named in court.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The bill in consideration was originally named Ryder’s Law after a 14-year-old carriage horse who collapsed in 2022 and was later euthanized due to cancer.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of name

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at speed
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Cite this Entry

“Attach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attach. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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