associate

[ verb uh-soh-shee-eyt, -see-; noun adjective uh-soh-shee-it, -eyt, -see- ]

verb (used with object)

, as·so·ci·at·ed, as·so·ci·at·ing.

1. to connect or bring into relation, as thought, feeling, memory, etc.:

   Many people associate dark clouds with depression and gloom.

   Synonyms: relate, couple, connect

   Antonyms: distinguish

2. to join as a companion, partner, or ally:

   to associate oneself with a cause.

3. to unite; combine:

   coal associated with shale.

verb (used without object)

, as·so·ci·at·ed, as·so·ci·at·ing.

1. to enter into union; unite.
2. to keep company, as a friend, companion, or ally:

   He was accused of associating with known criminals.

3. to join together as partners or colleagues.

noun

1. a person who shares actively in anything as a business, enterprise, or undertaking; partner; colleague; fellow worker:

   He consulted with his associates before proceeding further.

   Antonyms: adversary

2. a companion or comrade:

   my most intimate associates.

   Antonyms: adversary

3. a confederate; an accomplice or ally:

   criminal associates.

   Antonyms: adversary

4. anything usually accompanying or associated with another; an accompaniment or concomitant.
5. a person who is admitted to a subordinate degree of membership in an association or institution:

   an associate of the Royal Academy.

adjective

1. connected, joined, or related, especially as a companion or colleague; having equal or nearly equal responsibility:

   an associate partner.

2. having subordinate status; without full rights and privileges:

   an associate member.

3. allied; concomitant.

associate

verb

1. tr to link or connect in the mind or imagination

   to associate Christmas with fun

2. intr to keep company; mix socially

   to associate with writers

3. intr to form or join an association, group, etc
4. tr; usually passive to consider in conjunction; connect

   rainfall is associated with humidity

5. tr to bring (a person, esp oneself) into friendship, partnership, etc
6. tr; often passive to express agreement or allow oneself to be connected (with)

   Bertrand Russell was associated with the peace movement

noun

1. a person joined with another or others in an enterprise, business, etc; partner; colleague
2. a companion or friend
3. something that usually accompanies another thing; concomitant

   hope is an associate to happiness

4. a person having a subordinate position in or admitted to only partial membership of an institution, association, etc

adjective

1. joined with another or others in an enterprise, business, etc; having equal or nearly equal status

   an associate director

2. having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status

   an associate member

3. accompanying; concomitant

Derived Forms

• asˈsociable, adjective
• asˈsociatory, adjective
• asˈsociateˌship, noun
• asˈsociˌator, noun

Other Words From

• as·so·ci·ate·ship noun
• re·as·so·ci·ate verb reassociated reassociating
• su·per·as·so·ci·ate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of associate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin associātus “joined to, united with” (past participle of associāre ), equivalent to as- as- + soci- ( social ) + -ātus -ate ¹; compare Anglo-French associer (verb), associé (noun)

Word History and Origins

Origin of associate¹

C14: from Latin associāre to ally with, from sociāre to join, from socius an ally

Synonym Study

See acquaintance.

Example Sentences

Surenos are told when to workout, who to associate with and how to distribute any funds they make from illegal activity.

From The Daily Beast

Over at Sears, a sales associate makes just $8.44 an hour, $14,770.

From The Daily Beast

“He turned everybody he knew into somebody else he knew,” the former associate said.

From The Daily Beast

She lived it — civil rights and other issues that you associate from the family.

From The Daily Beast

She now serves as an Associate Professor at Colorado State University and has authored several books on autism and animal science.

From The Daily Beast

The reason we associate rhythm with the significance of time is that rhythm is a measurer of time.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not know what the scent was, but it smelled rich and artificial, and he disliked to associate it with his new friend.

From Project Gutenberg

With this political subjection one is reluctant to associate a more sordid kind of obligation.

From Project Gutenberg

Generally persons who associate for charitable or benevolent purposes do not regard themselves in a legal sense as partners.

From Project Gutenberg

And vowing to Him in an individual capacity, will not be accepted for vowing and swearing to Him in a public associate character.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• combine
• correlate
• identify
• join
• link
• mix
• relate