Bond
What it means
To develop a close connection through trust, affection, or shared experience.
Reach for it when describing people or animals becoming meaningfully attached
The volunteers began to bond while repairing the storm-damaged footpath.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
click
Fits when immediate social ease suits the moment
Not when reliability built slowly is the basis
-
everyday
Fits when any meaningful link begins to form
Not when lasting attachment must be explicit
-
warm
grow close
Fits when increasing personal affection is central
Not when a whole team's connection is being described
-
professional
build rapport
Fits when comfortable communication matters
Not when the relationship has become emotionally close
-
formal
Fits when shared purpose brings separate people together
Not when personal trust rather than common action is meant
-
literary
form an attachment
Fits when emotional closeness deserves precision
Not when a mutual and informal tone is wanted
Opposites 3
- disconnect
- alienate
- estrange
Common phrases 3
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bond with someone
Shared jokes helped the shy child bond with someone in the new class.
-
bond over
The two neighbors began to bond over their unruly gardens.
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chance to bond
A quiet train journey gave the new teammates a chance to bond.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated