Meaning & use
misconnect
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitivetechnical
To connect something incorrectly, especially a phone call or electronic device.
Grammar: Can be used with an object: 'The operator misconnected the lines.' Or without: 'The call misconnected.'
Patterns
- misconnect something
- misconnect a call
- misconnect the wires
The technician misconnected the cables, so the internet didn't work.
I tried to call my sister, but the line misconnected and I got a stranger.
Be careful not to misconnect the red and black wires.
verbintransitivefigurative
To fail to make a proper social or emotional connection with someone.
Grammar: Often used without an object, followed by 'with': 'We misconnected with each other.'
Patterns
- misconnect with someone
- misconnect with each other
They misconnected during their first date and never went out again.
Sometimes parents and teenagers misconnect because they don't listen to each other.
The team misconnected on the project and missed the deadline.
Word forms
| third person singular | misconnects |
|---|---|
| past tense | misconnected |
| past participle | misconnected |
| -ing form | misconnecting |
Common combinations
- misconnect a call
- The system misconnected the call, so I heard a busy signal.
- misconnect the wires
- If you misconnect the wires, the device may not turn on.
- misconnect with someone
- He misconnected with his audience because he spoke too quickly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disconnect
- Disconnect means to break a connection that already exists; misconnect means to make a wrong connection.
- mix up
- Mix up is informal and can mean to confuse things; misconnect is more specific to connections.
Opposites
Word family
- misconnection noun
- An incorrect connection, especially in phone or computer systems.
Commonly confused: misconnect or disconnect?
misconnect vs disconnect
Disconnect means to break a connection; misconnect means to connect wrongly. They are not opposites but can be confused.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
Option 0 uses the past tense 'misconnected' correctly with an object. Option 1 has wrong word order. Option 2 uses the base form instead of past tense. Option 3 uses the -ing form without a helping verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “misconnect”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.