join in
take part in an activity that others are already doing
What does "join in" mean?
Examples
- Everyone was clapping along to the music, so I decided to join in.
- Don't just watch — join in the fun!
- She was too nervous to join in with the discussion at first, but eventually she spoke up.
How to use it
Used on its own when the activity is already clear from context — no object is needed.
The whole crowd started clapping, and soon everyone joined in.
Used to name the activity directly after 'in the' — common with nouns like fun, singing, celebration, laughter.
Don't stand at the side — come and join in the fun!
A common British English pattern that uses 'with' before the activity, especially when followed by a gerund (-ing form).
After a few minutes, she felt confident enough to join in with the singing.
Often appears after verbs like 'encourage', 'invite', or 'feel free' when asking someone to participate.
The teacher encouraged the quieter students to join in the discussion.
Used to explain why someone does not participate, often with adjectives like 'shy', 'nervous', or 'afraid'.
He was too shy to join in at first, but eventually he started laughing along with the others.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
Because 'join in' is intransitive, you cannot place a pronoun object directly after it. Instead, say 'join in with it/them' or simply 'join in'.
'Take part in' is more neutral and formal — it does not suggest that the activity is already underway. Use 'join in' when you are entering something that has already started, and 'take part in' for planned, organised participation.
'Join in' never separates — the word 'in' cannot be moved away from 'join'. There is no object that goes between 'join' and 'in'.
Usage
Join in is neutral and works in both spoken and written English, but it is most common in everyday conversation. It emphasises that an activity is already happening when you start to participate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'join in' mean the activity has to be already happening?
Yes — that is exactly what makes 'join in' different from similar phrases. It implies that something is already going on and you choose to start participating. If the activity hasn't started yet, 'take part in' is a better choice.
Can I say 'join in with' or is it just 'join in'?
Both are correct. 'Join in' on its own is fine when the activity is clear from context. 'Join in with' is commonly used in British English when you want to name the activity, especially with an -ing form — for example, 'join in with the dancing'. You can also say 'join in the dancing' without 'with'.
Can 'join in' be used in the passive — for example, 'the game was joined in by everyone'?
No — 'join in' cannot be used in the passive. Because it is intransitive (it has no direct object), there is nothing to make into a subject in a passive sentence. You would say 'Everyone joined in the game' instead.
What kinds of activities commonly go with 'join in'?
The most natural collocations are social or group activities: join in the fun, the laughter, the singing, the celebration, the conversation, the discussion, or the game. It works best with activities that happen in a group and are already underway when someone new starts participating.
Is 'join in' mainly used in British English?
No, 'join in' is used in both British and American English. However, the specific pattern 'join in with + noun/gerund' (e.g. 'join in with the singing') is more typical of British English. In American English, speakers are more likely to say 'join in the singing' or simply 'join in'.
Ready to practise?
Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.
Start Practising →