united

united — adjective

1. used to describe separate groups, people, or countries that have come together t

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

used to describe separate groups, people, or countries that have come together to form a single unit or to act with a shared purpose.

Example

The United Nations sent aid to the flood victims within 48 hours.

used in proper name: United Nations

Neighbours made a united effort to clear the snow from the street before dawn.

collocation: united effort

Common collocations
  • united effort
  • united front
  • united team
  • united council
  • united state
  • united management
Synonyms
  • combined

    more neutral and factual; used when things are simply put together, not necessarily with shared purpose

  • merged

    implies full blending into a single entity, usually of companies or organizations

  • allied

    suggests a strategic partnership that preserves each member's separate identity

  • joint

    emphasizes cooperative action (joint venture, joint effort) rather than the state of being one unit

Antonyms
  • divided

    the most direct opposite; separated into parts

  • split

    suggests a division caused by disagreement or conflict

Grammar Patterns

united + noun

united in + noun/gerund

united as + noun

Usage Note

Very frequently used before a noun, especially in the names of organizations and sports teams (United Nations, United Airlines, Manchester United). In such names, it signals that the organization was originally formed by merging separate parts.

Common Mistakes

The team is very united together.
The team is very united.
'united' already implies togetherness; adding 'together' is redundant.

2. used to describe a situation where everyone in a group shares the same opinion,

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

used to describe a situation where everyone in a group shares the same opinion, goal, or feeling about a particular matter.

Example

The board members were united in their decision to reject the bid.

pattern: united in + possessive + noun

Staff and management are united on the need for better safety equipment.

pattern: united on + noun phrase (topic/issue)

Common collocations
  • united in
  • united on
  • united against
  • united behind
  • united over
Synonyms
  • unanimous

    more formal; used specifically about votes or formal decisions

  • harmonious

    emphasizes peaceful coexistence and lack of conflict, not necessarily active agreement

  • in agreement

    a phrasal alternative that is neutral in tone and very common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • divided

    used when people hold opposing views

  • disunited

    specific to lack of agreement within a group; slightly formal

Grammar Patterns

united in + noun/gerund

united on + noun

united against + noun

united in + possessive + noun

Usage Note

Typically used predicatively (after a linking verb like 'are' or 'were'). The most common prepositions are 'in' (followed by a gerund or abstract noun), 'on' (followed by an issue or topic), and 'against' (followed by the thing being opposed).

Common Mistakes

We are united to stop the project.
We are united in stopping the project.
With 'united', use 'in + gerund' to describe a shared action, not an infinitive of purpose.

3. used to describe a deliberate public show of agreement among group members, some

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

used to describe a deliberate public show of agreement among group members, sometimes hiding private disagreements for strategic reasons.

Example

The opposition party presented a united front during the election campaign.

fixed phrase: present a united front

At the press conference, the leaders showed a united face on trade policy.

fixed phrase: show a united face

Common collocations
  • united front
  • united face
  • united appearance
  • united in public
Synonyms
  • unified

    more neutral and less performative; can describe either genuine or strategic unity

  • solid

    informal; suggests strong, reliable unity (e.g. staying solid as a group)

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

present/keep up + united front/face/appearance

united in public

Usage Note

Often occurs in the fixed phrase 'present a united front'. The sense carries a strategic or performative nuance — the group may not genuinely agree but chooses to appear united. Distinguish from sense 2 (IN AGREEMENT), which describes genuine shared opinion.

Common Mistakes

The team presented a united front on the field.' (when you mean they played well as a team)
The team presented a united front during contract negotiations.
'present a united front' implies strategic agreement, not general teamwork.
Idioms

form, present, etc. a united front

idiom

To act together as a group to show that everyone shares the same opinion or goal.

The teachers formed a united front to ask for better salaries.

Did the board members present a united front at the meeting?

Word family

  • unite
    verbB1
  • unity
    nounB2
  • unification
    nounB2
  • reunite
    verbC1
  • reunification
    nounC1
  • disunited
    adjectiveC1
  • disunity
    nounC1
  • unify
    verbB2
  • unifier
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe things working together, but they differ in how close the connection is. 'United' is the strongest — it suggests emotional or moral bonding, not just practical grouping (a united family; a united country). 'Combined' is neutral and factual; it describes things simply put together, such as combined forces or combined income. 'Unified' sits between the two — it emphasizes the process of becoming one (a unified system; unified standards). 'Allied' implies a partnership in which each side keeps its separate identity (allied nations; allied industries). 'Joint' stresses shared action rather than the state of being one (joint account; joint effort). In everyday use: 'The allied companies launched a joint project, creating a unified product line, but it was the united team spirit that made it succeed.'

united ↗combinedunifiedalliedjoint ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • closely united
  • strongly united
  • fully united
  • firmly united
  • newly united

Phrases

  • present a united front
  • keep up a united appearance
  • show a united face
  • stand united

Prepositions

  • united in
  • united on
  • united against
  • united behind
  • united over
  • united as

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'unīre' (to unite), which is built on 'ūnus' (one). English borrowed it through Middle French 'unir' in the mid-15th century. The adjective form 'united' appeared around the 1550s, originally as a past participle of the verb 'unite', and soon developed its own independent adjective meaning.