reunite

Reunite is a verb meaning to come together again after a period of separation. It can describe people or groups being brought back into close association, or the act of causing them to do so. The prefix re- means again, and unite means to join as one; the word ultimately derives from Latin unire. The form appeared in English in the Middle English period.

Common uses include family reunions after long separation, such as relatives who have lived apart or who were separated by travel or migration; the reunion of people displaced by conflict or disaster; and the rejoining of members of organizations, such as alumni or former colleagues. In political and historical contexts, reunite is used in the sense of reunification, the process of reestablishing a single political entity after division. The related noun forms are reunion (an event of coming together) and reunification (the act of becoming one again).

Practical and emotional dimensions accompany reunions. They may be voluntary or organized with support from communities, governments, or organizations. Barriers can include distance, visa or eligibility restrictions, safety concerns, and psychological or memory-related factors. The outcome of a reunion can range from a successful, lasting reestablishment of ties to partial or delayed reconciling of relationships. See also reunion, reconciliation, and reunification for related concepts.