connect
connect — verb
1. to put two or more physical items together so that they touch, fasten, or work a
to put two or more physical items together so that they touch, fasten, or work as a single unit — for example, connecting a TV to a cable box or connecting two garden hoses so water flows through them.
Jude connected the printer to his laptop with a USB cable.
connect + [object] + to + [device/object]
The two garden hoses connect easily with this special clip.
intransitive use: two things connect
Aylin asked the technician to connect the new washing machine to the water supply.
The bridge connects the old town to the new shopping center.
Make sure you connect the red wire before testing the circuit.
- attach
more general; can mean fixing one thing to another without implying a functional link
- link
often implies a chain or series of connections rather than a direct join
- join
focuses on the act of bringing two things into contact; slightly more formal than 'connect'
- fasten
implies making something secure, often with a physical device like a clip or rope
- disconnect
the direct opposite; to separate things that were joined
文法句型
connect + [object] + to/with + [object]
[two things] + connect
用法筆記
The most common preposition patterns are 'connect A to B' (for physical attachment) and 'connect A with B' (for linking systems). With intransitive use, the subject is typically two or more items that share a joining point.
常見錯誤
2. to think of or show that two people, things, or events are linked in some way —
to think of or show that two people, things, or events are linked in some way — for example, connecting rising temperatures to climate change or connecting a suspect with a crime through evidence.
Researchers connect the city's higher crime rate to rising unemployment.
connect + [cause] + to + [effect]
Folake could not connect the strange phone call with any real event in her life.
Most people connect the smell of cinnamon with warm winter holidays.
Evidence connects the same man to three separate robberies across the state.
Benjamin never connected the beautiful sunset photo with the town where he grew up.
- separate
to consider or treat as unrelated
- distinguish
to notice or point out differences rather than links
文法句型
connect + [person/thing] + to/with + [other]
be connected + to/with
connect + [event] + to/with + [cause]
用法筆記
Commonly used in academic, investigative, or explanatory contexts. The pattern 'be connected with' often suggests a weaker or more indirect link than 'be connected to'. Subject can be a person (connecting ideas) or evidence/data (showing a relationship).
常見錯誤
3. to feel understood and at ease with someone because you share similar interests,
to feel understood and at ease with someone because you share similar interests, values, experiences, or feelings — for example, connecting with a colleague who grew up in the same hometown.
Jiwoo felt she could truly connect with her new classmates after they shared travel stories.
connect with + [person/group] — emotional rapport
I never really connected with my grandfather until we started gardening together.
The speaker connected with the audience through her honest and funny stories.
Yael found it hard to connect with people who had never faced real difficulties.
As a teacher, Mateo makes an effort to connect with every student in his class.
- relate to
more passive — you understand someone's situation without necessarily feeling a personal bond
- bond with
implies a stronger, more lasting emotional attachment formed over time
- hit it off
informal; describes an instant, easy connection upon first meeting
- drift apart
to gradually lose a close emotional connection
文法句型
connect + with + [person/group]
feel + connected + to + [person]
用法筆記
Almost always used with the preposition 'with'. The intransitive pattern 'connect with someone' is the most natural. In passive form, 'feel connected to someone' shifts the focus to the emotional state of the speaker rather than the mutual relationship.
常見錯誤
4. to put someone into telephone contact with another person so they can have a con
to put someone into telephone contact with another person so they can have a conversation — for example, a receptionist connecting a caller to a manager's office.
Please hold the line while I connect you to Mr. Chen's office.
connect + [person] + to + [person/department]
Trang tried three times before the operator finally connected her call to Bangkok.
The system could not connect my call because the network was down.
Once connected, speak clearly and tell the receptionist who you wish to speak to.
I'll connect you with our support team who can help with your billing problem.
- put through
phrasal verb; informal and very common in office phone conversations
- transfer
implies moving an existing call from one line or person to another
- patch through
informal; technical or radio context
- disconnect
to end a phone connection or hang up
文法句型
connect + [person] + to + [person/place]
connect + [call]
用法筆記
Common in customer-service and office settings. Both 'connect to' and 'connect with' are used, though 'connect to' is more typical when referring to a specific person or extension, while 'connect with' may refer to a team or department.
常見錯誤
5. When a bus, train, plane, or other public transport is scheduled to arrive short
When a bus, train, plane, or other public transport is scheduled to arrive shortly before another service departs, giving travelers the chance to switch vehicles and continue their trip — for example, a flight landing just before a connecting train departs from the same station.
The last train from Taipei connects with the early ferry to Tamsui.
intransitive: [transport A] + connects with + [transport B]
Her London flight landed and connected to Berlin an hour later.
The bus from the station connects with every local train that arrives.
Travelers on this route will need to connect through Singapore before continuing to Bali.
The night bus does not connect with morning flights, so passengers wait at the airport.
- link up
informal; can describe any transport services that meet at a point
- synchronize with
formal; implies careful timetable planning between services
- miss
when a passenger fails to board the connecting transport because it left before they arrived
文法句型
[transport vehicle] + connect(s) + with + [other transport]
用法筆記
Used intransitively — the subject is always a mode of transport (bus, train, plane, ferry). The pattern 'connect with' specifies the second vehicle. A vehicle 'connects' if its schedule is designed to meet another. If a passenger uses this arrangement, they 'make a connection'.
常見錯誤
6. When a player's hand, foot, fist, or sports equipment makes firm contact with a
When a player's hand, foot, fist, or sports equipment makes firm contact with a ball or opponent during a game or activity — for example, a boxer's punch connecting with the opponent's chin, or a bat connecting with a baseball.
Nikos connected with the ball and sent it deep into left field.
connect with + [ball] — baseball context
The boxer's punch connected squarely with his opponent's jaw.
Ritu swung the bat but never connected with the pitch.
His kick connected cleanly with the soccer ball, and it flew straight into the net.
The tennis player's racket connected perfectly with the serve, sending it past Christopher.
- hit
more general and common; does not carry the same sense of a clean, planned impact
- strike
more formal or dramatic; implies deliberate forceful impact
- make contact
a descriptive phrase rather than a single verb; neutral in register
- miss
to fail to make contact with the ball or target
文法句型
[body part/equipment] + connect(s) + with + [ball/target]
用法筆記
Almost always used intransitively with 'with'. Common in sports commentary and informal conversation about games. The subject is typically a body part (punch, kick, fist) or sports implement (bat, racket, club). Adverbs like 'squarely', 'cleanly', 'firmly', and 'perfectly' frequently modify this sense.