join up
B2informal, neutral
Definition
Meaning
to enlist or become a member of an organization, especially the armed forces
to connect or bring things together; to meet or unite with someone
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a phrasal verb with strong military associations. In non-military contexts, often implies forming a connection or partnership.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English, especially in military contexts. In American English, 'enlist' is often preferred for military meaning.
Connotations
UK: stronger historical association with voluntary wartime enlistment. US: can sound slightly dated or British-influenced.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both varieties, but declining in military usage in favor of 'enlist' (US) or 'sign up'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
join up (intransitive)join up with someonejoin something upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “join up the dots”
- “join up the thinking”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for partnerships or mergers: 'The two companies will join up for the project.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing; appears in historical/social studies about military service.
Everyday
Common for social activities: 'We'll join up with them at the restaurant.'
Technical
In computing: 'Join up these data points on the graph.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He decided to join up after leaving school.
- Can you join up these two cables?
- We'll join up with the others at the pub.
American English
- My grandfather joined up right after Pearl Harbor.
- Join the dots up to complete the picture.
- Let's join up with their team for the hike.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children joined up to play a game.
- He wants to join up with his friends.
- She joined up with a local charity.
- Join up the lines to make a shape.
- Many young men joined up during the war.
- The companies joined up to develop new technology.
- After university, he joined up and served overseas for five years.
- We need to join up our marketing efforts with sales data.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine soldiers JOINing a line that's forming UP – they 'join up' for service.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMBERSHIP IS CONNECTING TO A GROUP
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'присоединять' (transitive) when intransitive meaning is needed.
- Don't confuse with 'join in' (participate).
- Military sense ≠ 'записаться' (to sign up) without context.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'join up' instead of 'join' for simple membership ('I joined up the club'*).
- Omitting 'up' when military meaning is intended ('He joined the army last year' ≠ 'He joined up last year').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'join up' CORRECTLY in a military sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's neutral to informal. In formal military contexts, 'enlist' or 'commission' are often preferred.
'Join' is general for becoming a member. 'Join up' specifically suggests enlisting (military) or actively connecting with others/things.
Yes, but less common. 'Join up the wires' means connect them. Intransitive use ('he joined up') is more frequent.
Yes, but declining. 'Sign up' or 'enlist' are more contemporary in many English-speaking militaries.