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Code & Deliveryverb · /riːˈbeɪs/

rebase

In simple English

In Git and other version control systems, rebasing is a way to update your branch with the latest changes from another branch, usually the main or develop branch. When you rebase, Git takes all the commits you made on your feature branch and replays them on top of the target branch. This creates a cleaner, linear project history compared to merging, which creates merge commits. Rebasing is especially useful when working on a feature branch that has fallen behind the main branch due to other team members pushing code. However, rebasing changes commit history, so it should only be used on branches that have not been shared publicly or with other team members, as it can cause conflicts and confusion if others are working on the same branch.

What does rebase mean in Git and when should I use it instead of merge?

At a glanceCEFR C1
Commonness4/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓We need to rebase this branch before merging.
✓Let us rebase onto main to get the latest changes.
✓I am going to rebase my commits to clean up the history.

Real examples

in a standup

"I finished the feature, but I need to rebase it onto main first before I submit the PR."

in a code review

"Please rebase your branch on the latest develop branch to resolve these merge conflicts."

in a team meeting

"We are using interactive rebase to squash commits and create a cleaner git history."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Non-native speakers sometimes confuse rebase with merge. Rebase rewrites commit history by moving commits; merge combines branches while keeping history intact.

✕I rebased my code with the team branch.
✓I rebased my branch onto the team branch.— Rebase is directional: you rebase X onto Y, meaning you update X with changes from Y.
✕We should rebase instead of merge to keep the team synchronized.
✓We should merge shared branches, and only rebase local branches before submitting PRs.— Rebasing rewrites history, so it should not be used on shared or public branches.
✕I will rebase the main branch with my feature.
✓I will rebase my feature branch onto main.— You rebase your work onto the target branch, not the other way around, to avoid overwriting shared history.

Other forms

verb

rebase

"I will rebase my branch this afternoon."

verb

rebasing

"Rebasing your feature branch helps keep the commit history clean."

verb

rebased

"She rebased her commits before pushing to the remote."

noun

rebase

"A rebase is cleaner than a merge for local branches."

Often used with

rebase ontoSpecifies the target branch: rebase onto main, rebase onto develop
interactive rebaseA rebase mode allowing you to edit, squash, or reorder commits
rebase conflictA merge conflict that occurs during the rebase process
force push after rebaseCommon action needed after rebasing to update a remote branch
rebase and mergeA GitHub/GitLab feature that combines rebasing and merging in one action

Similar words

mergeSimilar goal but different method; merge preserves history with a merge commit, rebase rewrites history linearly
fast-forward mergeA simpler merge strategy that can achieve similar results to rebase in some scenarios

Opposites

merge

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your feature branch is outdated. What do you say to your colleague?

Complete the sentence

2. Before submitting your PR, please _______ your branch onto the latest develop branch.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses rebase incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using rebase: 'We need to put our changes on top of the latest main branch code to avoid conflicts.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "rebase" in a standup this week?

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