To enlist in the armed forces, or to connect separate things or people together.
To become a soldier or member of something, or to put separate things together so they connect.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To enlist in the military or join an organization as a full member.
"My grandfather joined up at the age of eighteen and served in the navy."
I joined up because I wanted to serve my country.
— Common phrasing used by veterans in interviews; widely attested in WWII oral history collections
To connect or join separate things or people together.
"Join up the dots to reveal the hidden picture."
To meet up or unite with others for a shared purpose.
"The two hiking groups joined up at the summit before descending together."
To attach upward or together — partially transparent in the connecting sense.
To become a soldier or member of something, or to put separate things together so they connect.
The military sense is historically common in British English ('he joined up in 1939'). The connecting sense is common in both British and American English. Also used figuratively for people or organizations coming together.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "join up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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