Cool MateFuse vs Merge
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fuse
Top 2,000 (common)
Merge
Top 1,000 (very common)C1verb
Most common: Merge
| Fuse | Merge | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fjuːz//🇺🇸 //fjuːz// | 🇬🇧 /["/mɜːdʒ/","/ˈmɜːdʒɪz/","/mɜːdʒd/","/ˈmɜːdʒɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/mɜːrdʒ/","/ˈmɜːrdʒɪz/","/mɜːrdʒd/","/ˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To join two things together; to mix. | To combine two or more things into one. |
| Example | The artist chose to fuse different materials in her sculpture. | The two companies decided to merge to increase their market share. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | fuse together, fuse into, fuse with, fuse circuit, fuse design | merge data, merge companies, merge cells, merge ideas, merge accounts |
| Antonyms | separate, disconnect, diverge | split, divide |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'fused' as the past tense; remember it's a present form., Incorrectly using 'fuse' when referring to temporary mixtures; it's more permanent. | Confusing with 'marge', which is not a valid word., Using 'merge' without an object; remember it needs something to merge., Omitting the 's' in present tense for third person (e.g., 'he merge' instead of 'he merges'). |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts; often suggests a strong joining of elements, like in science or art. | Use when talking about combining ideas, companies, or data. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, such as business or technology. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fuse vs Merge
What's the difference between Fuse and Merge?
Fuse: To join two things together; to mix. Merge: To combine two or more things into one.
Which is more common: Fuse and Merge?
Merge is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Fuse: The artist chose to fuse different materials in her sculpture. Merge: The two companies decided to merge to increase their market share.
Can I use Fuse and Merge interchangeably?
Not always. Fuse and Merge are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.