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Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Simona in China about the words "combine" and "integrate."

Question

Dear Teacher,

Hi! I have a question. What is the difference between "combine" and "integrate?" Thank you!

Answer

Thank you for writing to us, Simona. I'm happy to answer this question.

"Combine" and "integrate" are similar in meaning. But, there are some small differences in usage.

The word "combine" is in our Learning English Word Book. We define it as a verb meaning to mix or bring together.

"Integrate" is not in our Word Book. Merriam-Webster's dictionary says the word means to unite or form into a whole.

Now, let's look at the prefixes² that begin each word. "Combine" begins with the prefix¹ co-, such as in the word "copilot." This prefix means "with."

"Integrate" begins with the prefix inter- but with the letter "r" removed. This means "among" or "between," as in the word "international."

The prefix co- generally gives the sense of joining two or more things together. For example, oxygen combines with hydrogen to make water. However, "combine" can also mean to mix things together, such as mixing the ingredients in a recipe.

"Integrate" can be used that same way. But, it also can mean to add something to one or more other things and mix them so well that they fully³ unite.

For example, a school might try to integrate healthy foods into its school meals. Or, a jazz group might try to integrate elements of country music into their songs.

Notice that we use the preposition "into" with the word integrate. We say that we "integrate x into y." Here is another example:

New technologies can quickly become integrated into our lives.

But when we use "combine," we use the preposition "with." We say we "combine x with y," or "combine x and y," as in these examples:

The management team is trying to combine youth with experience.

When you combine talent and hard work, you will see positive results.

"Integrate" can sometimes give a sense of deeper connection among two or more things than "combine." To see this, consider the word "integral." This word comes from the same root as 'integrate.'

We say that something is an integral part of something else. This means that the things are deeply connected or important to each other. For example:

Bicycles are an integral part of traffic and culture in the Netherlands.

Fishing is an integral part of the coastal⁴ economy.

Last, both the words "integral" and "integration⁵" have technical meanings in calculus⁶, a field of mathematics.

Words in This Story

ingredient -n. a food or item that goes into making a meal or dish

recipe -n. a set of directions for making a meal or dish and which includes a list of ingredients