What type of reaction do cells use to combine smaller monomers into larger functional polymers?

The reaction that links monomers to make polymers is polymerization. This process is also referred to as dehydration synthesis.  Two monomers are binding to each other and form one polymer. Example: hydrogen (H) from one monomer binds with a hydroxyl group (OH) from the other monomer and forms the polymer : H+ + OH- = H2O - the water molecule.