reconcile

UK: /ˈrɛkənsaɪl/ US: /ˈrɛkənˌsaɪl/ ,(rek′ən sīl′)

Inflections of 'reconcile' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

reconciles

v 3rd person singular

reconciling

v pres p

reconciled

v past

reconciled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rec•on•cile /ˈrɛkənˌsaɪl/   v., -ciled, -cil•ing. 

1. to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired:
   [~ + object + to + object] He was reconciled to his fate.
2. to (cause to) become friendly or peaceable again, as by settling a quarrel: [~ + object]
   to reconcile hostile persons.
   [no object]
   The husband and wife reconciled last week.
3. to compose or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.):
   [~ + object] They have reconciled their differences.
4. to bring into agreement:
   [~ + object] reconciled financial accounts.

rec•on•cil•a•ble, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rec•on•cile  (rek′ən sīl′), v., -ciled, -cil•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired:
   He was reconciled to his fate.
2. to win over to friendliness;
   cause to become amicable:
   to reconcile hostile persons.
3. to compose or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.).
4. to bring into agreement or harmony;
   make compatible or consistent:
   to reconcile differing statements; to reconcile accounts.
5. to reconsecrate (a desecrated church, cemetery, etc.).
6. to restore (an excommunicate or penitent) to communion in a church.

v.i. 

7. to become reconciled.

• Latin reconciliāre to make good again, repair. See re-, conciliate
• Middle English reconcilen 1300–50

rec′on•cile′ment, n. 
rec′on•cil′er, n. 
rec′on•cil′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. pacify, propitiate, placate.
• 4. harmonize.

Antonyms

• 3. anger.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

reconcile / ˈrɛkənˌsaɪl/ verb (transitive)

1. (often passive) usually followed by to: to make (oneself or another) no longer opposed; cause to acquiesce in something unpleasant: she reconciled herself to poverty
2. to become friendly with (someone) after estrangement or to re-establish friendly relations between (two or more people)
3. to settle (a quarrel or difference)
4. to make (two apparently conflicting things) compatible or consistent with each other
5. to reconsecrate (a desecrated church, etc)

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin reconciliāre to bring together again, from re- + conciliāre to make friendly, conciliate

ˈreconˌcilement noun

ˈreconˌciler noun

reconciliation / ˌrɛkənˌsɪlɪˈeɪʃən/ noun

reconciliatory / ˌrɛkənˈsɪlɪətərɪ -trɪ/ adjective