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
Donald Gould b
: to unite for a common end : join forces
people with different points of view coalesce into opposing factions I. L. Horowitz
I. L. Horowitz3
: to arise from the combination of distinct elements
an organized and a popular resistance immediately coalesced C. C. Menges
C. C. Mengestransitive verb
: to cause to unite
sometimes a book coalesces a public into a mass market Walter Meade
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
- associate
- combine
- conjoin
- conjugate
- connect
- couple
- fuse
- interfuse
- join
- link (up)
- marry
- unify
- unite
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Another set of consecutive home games against the same opponent, coming late enough in the season to allow the Cavaliers’ talented young base to coalesce. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2022 And once roasted, let the gratin rest a beat to coalesce—then grab some bread to run through the drippings. WSJ, 26 July 2022 Narrative threads vaguely coalesce: A bearded man piles salvaged planks onto a van. Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 For weeks, party officials behind the scenes have urged candidates in what was originally a 10-deep field to step aside and coalesce around one candidate to help defeat Mastriano. Marc Levy, ajc, 12 May 2022 There are a lot of people who are struggling to bring about reforms in their community and struggling to bring reforms nationally to end gerrymandering or institute term limits — whatever part of the reform agenda, it’s yet to fully coalesce. Darcel Rockett, chicagotribune.com, 15 Apr. 2022 In many cases, his songs’ best passages are outros, in which tossed-off riffs and refrains coalesce for a slow-cresting high. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 The mainstay menu preserves the legacy of Ricky Pichetrungsi, Justin’s father, whose recipes coalesce his Thai upbringing and Cantonese heritage. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2022 The airline industry is being to coalesce around a roadmap of what's feasible and what's needed to achieve it, said Graver. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 9 June 2022 See More
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2022 And once roasted, let the gratin rest a beat to coalesce—then grab some bread to run through the drippings. WSJ, 26 July 2022 Narrative threads vaguely coalesce: A bearded man piles salvaged planks onto a van. Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 For weeks, party officials behind the scenes have urged candidates in what was originally a 10-deep field to step aside and coalesce around one candidate to help defeat Mastriano. Marc Levy, ajc, 12 May 2022 There are a lot of people who are struggling to bring about reforms in their community and struggling to bring reforms nationally to end gerrymandering or institute term limits — whatever part of the reform agenda, it’s yet to fully coalesce. Darcel Rockett, chicagotribune.com, 15 Apr. 2022 In many cases, his songs’ best passages are outros, in which tossed-off riffs and refrains coalesce for a slow-cresting high. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 The mainstay menu preserves the legacy of Ricky Pichetrungsi, Justin’s father, whose recipes coalesce his Thai upbringing and Cantonese heritage. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2022 The airline industry is being to coalesce around a roadmap of what's feasible and what's needed to achieve it, said Graver. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 9 June 2022 See More 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
Medical Definition
coalesce
intransitive verb
co·alesce ˌkō-ə-ˈles
coalesced; coalescing
: to grow together
coalesces
verb
1
as in combines
to come together to form a single unit several small townships have coalesced into a single metropolis Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- combines
- unites
- connects
- fuses
- unifies
- joins
- conjoins
- marries
- associates
- couples
- conjugates
- interfuses
- assembles
- convenes
- reunites
- recombines
- links (up)
- clusters
- congregates
- rejoins
- reconnects
- mates
- allies
- compounds
- confederates
- yokes
- gathers
- splices
- leagues
- chains
- meets
- hooks
- constellates
- hitches
- reunifies
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- splits
- separates
- sections
- severs
- parts
- divides
- sunders
- detaches
- resolves
- dissociates
- isolates
- disconnects
- disperses
- breaks up
- unlinks
- uncouples
- divorces
- scatters
- disbands
- dissevers
- fractionates
- disunites
- disjoins
- disjoints
- disaffiliates
- unyokes
2
as in unites
to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members the historic preservation movement gained momentum when the two groups coalesced Synonyms & Similar Words
- unites
- cooperates
- collaborates
- merges
- federates
- coheres
- consolidates
- converges
- conjoins
- organizes
- allies
- confederates
- amalgamates
- pulls together
- joins
- leagues
- clubs
- incorporates
- combines
- closes ranks
- associates
- bands (together)
- groups
- cabals
- hangs together
- unionizes
- ties
- links
- gangs up
- affiliates
- knots
- teams (up)
- conglomerates
- weds
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disbands
- dissolves
- segregates
- detaches
- separates
- splits
- disengages
- severs
- parts
- breaks up
- alienates
- divorces
- sunders
- estranges
- falls out
- disunites
- apple essence
- apple family
- apple flea weevil
- apple fly
- apple geranium
- apple grain aphid
- apple green
- apple grunt
- apple gum
- apple haw
- apple head
- apple honey
- apple leaf skeletonizer
- apple leafhopper
- apple maggot
- apple martini
- apple mealybug
- apple mildew
- apple mint
- apple moss
- apple moth
- apple of discord
- apple of one's eye
- apple of Peru
- apple of Sodom