Meaning & use
joined forces
Last updated
“joined forces” is a form of “join forces”.
Meaning
phraseidiom
Worked together with someone or another group to achieve something.
Grammar: Past tense of 'join forces'; often followed by 'with'.
Patterns
- joined forces with someone
- joined forces to do something
The two companies joined forces to develop a new vaccine.
Local charities joined forces with the council to clean the park.
The teachers joined forces to ask for better pay.
Word forms
| base form | join forces |
|---|---|
| third person singular | joins forces |
| past tense | joined forces |
| past participle | joined forces |
| -ing form | joining forces |
Common combinations
- joined forces with
- The police joined forces with the community to reduce crime.
- joined forces to fight
- The countries joined forces to fight the disease.
- joined forces against
- The workers joined forces against the new policy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- teamed up
- Similar meaning but often used for smaller, less formal partnerships.
- collaborated
- More formal and often used for work on a project, not necessarily a struggle or campaign.
- cooperated
- Focuses on helping each other rather than combining as one group.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: joined forces or joined in?
joined forces vs joined in
'Joined in' means took part in an activity already happening; 'joined forces' means combined efforts with others.
Practice
Complete the sentence: The two schools ___ forces to raise money for charity.
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'joined' matches the past-time context of the sentence. 'Join' is present, 'joining' needs a helping verb, and 'joins' is singular and would not fit 'the two schools'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “joined forces”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.