v. 1
To tie or fasten tightly together, with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.
To bind grain in bundles.
v. 2
To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind.
Gravity binds the planets to the sun.
v. 3
To cover, as with a bandage.
n. 1
A troublesome situation; a problem; a predicament or quandary.

Related words

Word family: bindable binder bindery bindweed
Phrases: bind off

Forms

Plural: binds → fixes, pinches, scrapes, troubles…

Choose the right word

Bind or Binding?

Binding is primarily by something flexible, as a cord or bandage drawn closely around an object or group of objects, as when we bind up a wounded limb.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

tie I'm sorry, sir, but a jacket and tie are required.
connect Air Algerie needs to connect Algeria to the world.
fasten If you turn around, I'll fasten your dress for you.
restrain We tried to restrain him from his reckless action.
shackle Let's shackle your feet with silver fetters.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
bind		rising
tie		steady
connect		rising
fasten		steady
fetter		steady
restrain		falling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: fix¹, tie¹, jam¹
4 letters: stop¹, stay¹, hold¹, join¹, link¹, spot¹, hole¹, bond¹, wrap¹, rope¹, glue¹, lace¹, knot¹, knit¹
5 letters: stick¹, dress¹, strap¹, pinch¹, cling¹, hitch¹, affix²
6 letters: secure², engage², attach², adhere², plight¹, ordeal², scrape¹, pickle², clinch¹, compel², oblige², fasten², cleave¹, fetter²
7 letters: trouble², connect², dilemma³, bandage², curtail², repress², shackle², liement
8 letters: restrict², restrain², quagmire³, obligate³, quandary³
9 letters: associate⁴, constrain², indenture³
10 letters: apprentice³
11 letters: predicament⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (affix² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: relier
Italiano: collegare