accord

American  

[uh-kawrd] / əˈkɔrd /

verb (used without object)

accords, present (3rd person singular) accorded, past participle, past according present participle

1. to be in agreement or harmony; agree.

   Synonyms:

   concur, harmonize

   Antonyms:

   conflict

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verb (used with object)

accords, present (3rd person singular) accorded, past participle, past according present participle

1. to make agree or correspond; adapt.

   Synonyms:

   reconcile

2. to grant; bestow.

   to accord due praise.

   Antonyms:

   withdraw, deny, withhold

3. Archaic. to settle; reconcile.

noun

1. proper relationship or proportion; harmony.

2. a harmonious union of sounds, colors, etc.

3. consent or concurrence of opinions or wills; agreement.

4. an international agreement; settlement of questions outstanding among nations.

idioms

1. of one's own accord, without being asked or told; voluntarily.

   We did the extra work of our own accord.

accord British  

/ əˈkɔːd /

noun

1. agreement; conformity; accordance (esp in the phrase in accord with )

2. consent or concurrence of opinion

3. unanimously

4. pleasing relationship between sounds, colours, etc; harmony

5. a settlement of differences, as between nations; compromise

6. voluntarily

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verb

1. to be or cause to be in harmony or agreement

2. (tr) to grant; bestow

accord More Idioms  

1. see of one's own accord.

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Usage

What does accord mean? To accord is to agree or be in harmony with someone or something. Accord is usually used formally to mean to work together. It is often used in official decrees, analysis of public figures, and governmental affairs. Related to this, an accord is an agreement. In particular when nations agree to something, we often say they have reached an accord, as with the Paris Climate Accords. To accord can also mean to grant or bestow. Oftentimes an item that is accorded is something that will strengthen a relationship or agreement, as with according someone praise or forgiveness. Example: Failure to reach an accord will mean the battle will continue for years to come.

Synonym Usage

See correspond.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonaccord
  noun
• unaccorded
  adjective
• preaccord
  noun
• accordable
  adjective
• accorder
  noun
• well-accorded
  adjective
• unaccordable
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have accorded
  perfect
• has accorded
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am according
  progressive 1st person singular
• is according
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been according
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are according
  progressive
• accords
  singular 3rd person
• have been according
  perfect progressive
• according
  participle

Past

• had accorded
  perfect
• were according
  progressive plural
• was according
  progressive singular
• had been according
  perfect progressive
• accorded
  participle
• accorded
  simple

Future

• will accord
  simple
• will have accorded
  perfect
• will be according
  progressive
• will have been according
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of accord

First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English a(c)corden, late Old English acordan, from Old French acorder, from Vulgar Latin accordāre (unrecorded), from Latin ac- ac- + cor (stem cord- ) “heart” ( see cordial); see also heart

Explanation

An accord is an agreement between groups or even nations, like a formal peace accord that prevents war or the accord between you and your sister specifying who gets to use the car on which days. Accord is an agreeable word. If you and your best friend are always in accord, you agree about everything. And if you do something of your own accord, you do it without prompting from someone else. As a verb, accord means to be in harmony or agreement, or to allow. Perhaps your enhanced vocabulary will accord you, or allow you, a better understanding of language.

Example Sentences

He has called for a new Treasury-Fed Accord, modeled on the 1951 agreement that separated monetary policy from Treasury financing, for an era in which those lines have blurred.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

According to the informant, Perez said he was driving with three others in his green Honda Accord when they spotted a pickup truck.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Unions recognised by the bank welcomed the pay agreement, with Accord general secretary Get Nichols saying at the time the analysis was "really helpful".

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

That change in the relationship between Treasury and Fed would be part of a revitalized Treasury-Fed Accord, Warsh said, referring to a 1951 deal that gave the Fed the independence it has today.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

He berated the ANC for failing to disclose the location of arms caches and then rebuked us for maintaining a “private army,” Umkhonto we Sizwe, in violation of the National Peace Accord of September 1991.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• affirm
• agree
• conform
• correspond