accompany

verb

uh-KUM-puh-nee/əˈkʌm.pə.ni/

Formsaccompanies, accompanying, accompanied

8 meanings of accompany

1
verbtransitive
To go somewhere with someone as their companion.
Like walking next to a friend so they are not alone.
I will accompany my grandmother to the doctor.
A nurse accompanied the children on their trip.
Similarescort, attend, conduct, guide, chaperone
Note
2
verbtransitive
To be added to something else to make it more complete.
Like adding fries next to a burger to round out the meal.
A side salad accompanies every main dish here.
Warm bread can accompany the soup nicely.
Similarcomplement, supplement
3
verbtransitive
To happen or be present at the same time as something else.
Like thunder that comes right along with lightning.
A high fever often accompanies the flu.
Strong winds can accompany a heavy storm.
Similarattend
Note
4
verbtransitive
To play music that supports a singer or another player.
Like a friend who hums along softly while you sing the main tune.
She will accompany the singer on piano.
A guitarist accompanied the choir during the concert.
Similarback, support
Note
5
verbintransitive
To play a supporting part in a piece of music.
Like singing backup so the main voice stands out.
She prefers to accompany rather than play the solo.
The band accompanied quietly while the lead singer improvised.
Note

Less common meanings

6
verbobsoleteintransitive
To spend time together as friends or companions.
Note
7
verbobsoleteintransitive
To live together with someone as a couple.
Like two people sharing one home as a couple.
The two had accompanied together for a year before the parish took notice.
He was rumored to accompany with a widow from the next village.
Note
8
verbobsoletetransitive
To live with or exist together with someone or something.
Gijb, Suche as accompanyeth with man-killers and murtherers.
1534, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron BernersHere, accompanyeth with means lives or keeps company with these people.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of accompany apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

First seen in the early 1400s. It came from Old French acompagner, meaning 'to associate with', from a word for 'companion'.