verb

reconcile

/ˈrekənˌsaɪl/ · say it: REK·uhn·syl

to restore friendly relations

In Actions & Behavior

to make two ideas compatible

In Debate & Persuasion

In more detail

1. (verb) to find a way to make two different or opposite things work together or accept them both

2. (verb) to make someone agree or be satisfied again after a disagreement or conflict

3. (verb) to check that records or accounts match and correct any differences

Examples

1. She tried to reconcile her love of art with her practical need for a stable job.
2. The two former friends finally reconciled after not speaking for years.
3. The accountant reconciled the bank statement with the company's records.

How to use reconcile

Reconcile can mean to resolve a conflict between people or ideas, to restore a broken relationship, or to verify that financial records match. In the first sense, it often appears with 'differences' or 'views'; in the second, with personal relationships; and in the third, with accounting or administrative contexts. It is more formal than 'make up' when referring to relationships.

Common phrases

reconcile differences
reconcile accounts
reconcile with someone
reconcile opposing views
reconcile oneself to something

Synonyms

resolve · settle · harmonize · align · make peace

Opposites

conflict · divide · separate

Word family

reconciliation (noun) · reconciled (adjective) · reconciliatory (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse reconcile with resign or accept. Reconcile implies actively finding harmony or agreement between conflicting things, not merely accepting something unwanted.

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