Marry vs Unite vs Who did she take to husband

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Marry

Top 2,000 (common)A2verb

Unite

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

Who did she take to husband

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Who did she take to husband
 MarryUniteWho did she take to husband
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈmæri/","/ˈmæriz/","/ˈmærid/","/ˈmæriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmæri/","/ˈmæriz/","/ˈmærid/","/ˈmæriɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //juːˈnaɪt//🇺🇸 //juˈnaɪt//🇬🇧 //huː dɪd ʃi teɪk tə ˈhʌzbənd//🇺🇸 //hu dɪd ʃi teɪk tə ˈhʌzbənd//
MeaningTo become husband and wife.To bring together to form one group or whole.Who did she marry?
ExampleShe decided to marry him after three years of dating.The goal is to unite all citizens for a common cause.Who did she take to husband at the ceremony?
RegisterNeutralNeutralFormal
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA2B2-
Part of speechverbverb
Collocationswell, hope to, want to, agree to, for, into, get married, marry late, marry youngunite efforts, unite people, unite under a cause, unite for peacetake to husband, taking to husband, take as husband
Antonymsdivorce, separate, break updivide, separate, split-
Common mistakesConfused with 'wedding' (marry is the action, wedding is the event)., Using 'marry' without an object (e.g., 'He will marry' should include 'her')., Incorrectly using past tense (married) without context.Confused with 'united', which is past tense., Omitting the object when using 'unite'., Using 'unite' without context, leading to vagueness.Confused with 'married to' instead of 'take to husband'., Using this phrase in informal contexts where simpler phrases are preferred.
Usage notesUsed in the context of forming a legal or romantic partnership. Typically formal or neutral. Avoid in casual contexts that don’t pertain to relationships.Used in both formal and informal contexts. Common in discussions about teamwork, alliances, and movements. Avoid in very casual conversations.Used in very formal contexts, often in literature or old-fashioned speech. It is not commonly used in modern conversation.

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Marry
Who did she take to husband

Frequently asked questions: Marry vs Unite vs Who did she take to husband

What's the difference between Marry, Unite, and Who did she take to husband?

Marry: To become husband and wife. Unite: To bring together to form one group or whole. Who did she take to husband: Who did she marry?

Which is more formal: Marry, Unite, and Who did she take to husband?

Who did she take to husband is the most formal of these.

Which is more advanced: Marry, Unite, and Who did she take to husband?

Unite is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

Marry: She decided to marry him after three years of dating. Unite: The goal is to unite all citizens for a common cause. Who did she take to husband: Who did she take to husband at the ceremony?

Can I use Marry, Unite, and Who did she take to husband interchangeably?

Not always. Marry, Unite, and Who did she take to husband 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.