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Definition of reconcile verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reconcile

verb
 
/ˈrekənsaɪl/
 
/ˈrekənsaɪl/
(formal)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they reconcile
 
/ˈrekənsaɪl/
 
/ˈrekənsaɪl/
he / she / it reconciles
 
/ˈrekənsaɪlz/
 
/ˈrekənsaɪlz/
past simple reconciled
 
/ˈrekənsaɪld/
 
/ˈrekənsaɪld/
past participle reconciled
 
/ˈrekənsaɪld/
 
/ˈrekənsaɪld/
-ing form reconciling
 
/ˈrekənsaɪlɪŋ/
 
/ˈrekənsaɪlɪŋ/
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  1. reconcile something (with something) to find an acceptable way of dealing with two or more ideas, needs, etc. that seem to be opposed to each other
    • an attempt to reconcile the need for industrial development with concern for the environment
    • It was hard to reconcile his career ambitions with the needs of his children.
    Extra Examples
    • It is difficult to reconcile the facts with the judge's conclusion.
    • We are left with the problem of reconciling our religion with the modern view of women.
    • We are still trying to reconcile the needs of the two groups.
    • trying to find some way of reconciling the two conflicting views
  2. [usually passive] to make people become friends again after an argument or a disagreement
    • reconcile somebody The pair were reconciled after Jackson made a public apology.
    • reconcile somebody with somebody He has recently been reconciled with his wife.
    Topics Discussion and agreementc2
  3. reconcile somebody/yourself (to something) to make somebody/yourself accept an unpleasant situation because it is not possible to change it synonym resign yourself to
    • He could not reconcile himself to the prospect of losing her.
    • No amount of designer labels could reconcile her to missing out on the trip.
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French reconcilier or Latin reconciliare, from Latin re- ‘back’ (also expressing intensive force) + conciliare ‘bring together’.
See reconcile in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee reconcile in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
trait
noun
 
 
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