Cool MateIntegrate vs Merge
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Integrate
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Merge
Top 1,000 (very common)C1verb
Most common: Merge
| Integrate | Merge | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪntɪɡreɪt/","/ˈɪntɪɡreɪts/","/ˈɪntɪɡreɪtɪd/","/ˈɪntɪɡreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪntɪɡreɪt/","/ˈɪntɪɡreɪts/","/ˈɪntɪɡreɪtɪd/","/ˈɪntɪɡreɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/mɜːdʒ/","/ˈmɜːdʒɪz/","/mɜːdʒd/","/ˈmɜːdʒɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/mɜːrdʒ/","/ˈmɜːrdʒɪz/","/mɜːrdʒd/","/ˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To combine things into a whole. | To combine two or more things into one. |
| Example | We need to integrate new technology into our existing systems. | 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 | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | closely, tightly, well, into, with, highly integrated, poorly integrated, well, completely, fully, into, with | merge data, merge companies, merge cells, merge ideas, merge accounts |
| Antonyms | segregate, isolate, separate | split, divide |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'segregate', which means to separate., Using 'integrate' with an incorrect preposition, e.g., 'integrate with' instead of 'into'., Incorrectly using 'integrate' as a noun instead of a verb. | 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 | Use 'integrate' in formal and neutral contexts, particularly in academic or professional settings. It is typically not used in casual conversations. | Use when talking about combining ideas, companies, or data. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, such as business or technology. |
Frequently asked questions: Integrate vs Merge
What's the difference between Integrate and Merge?
Integrate: To combine things into a whole. Merge: To combine two or more things into one.
Which is more common: Integrate and Merge?
Merge is the most common in everyday English.
Are Integrate and Merge the same CEFR level?
Integrate: B2, Merge: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Integrate and Merge interchangeably?
Not always. Integrate 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.