Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

reconcile

 - definition
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
verb British English pronunciation: reconcile /ˈrekənsaɪl/ 
Word Forms
Close
present tense
I/you/we/theyreconcile
he/she/itreconciles
present participlereconciling
past tensereconciled
past participlereconciled
  1. 1
    [transitive] to find a way to make ideas, beliefs, needs etc that are opposed to each other capable of existing together

    There seems to be no possibility of reconciling the two versions of what happened.

    Management and labour are attempting to reconcile their differences.

    reconcile something with something:

    Research is being undertaken in how to reconcile conservation needs with growing demand for water.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  reconcileThesaurus entry for this meaning of reconcile
  2. 2
    [intransitive/transitive] if you reconcile two people or groups, or if they reconcile, they become friendly again after a disagreement

    The couple has been making every effort to reconcile.

    Foreign mediators have failed to reconcile the warring factions.

    reconcile someone with someone:

    It was his father’s wish that he become reconciled with his family.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  reconcileThesaurus entry for this meaning of reconcile
  3. 3
    [transitive] to make someone accept a situation even though they do not like it
    reconcile someone to something:

    She couldn’t reconcile herself to the idea of just giving up.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  reconcileThesaurus entry for this meaning of reconcile

This is the British English definition of reconcile. View American English definition of reconcile.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

 

vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day Word of the Day

glottal stop

a sound made by stopping air as it passes through your throat. In some varieties of spoken...

Open Dictionary

conflict mineral

a mineral which is mined in a place where there is armed conflict, and sold to help pay for weapons

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog