accompany
Americanverb (used with object)
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to go along or in company with; join in action.
to accompany a friend on a walk.
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to be or exist in association or company with.
Thunder accompanies lightning.
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to put in company with; cause to be or go along; associate (usually followed bywith ).
He accompanied his speech with gestures.
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Music. to play or sing an accompaniment to or for.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to go along with, so as to be in company with or escort
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to supplement
the food is accompanied with a very hot mango pickle
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(tr) to occur, coexist, or be associated with
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to provide a musical accompaniment for (a performer)
Synonym Usage
Accompany, attend, convoy, escort mean to go along with someone (or something). To accompany is to go along as an associate on equal terms: to accompany a friend on a shopping trip. Attend implies going along with, usually to render service or perform duties: to attend one's employer on a business trip. To convoy is to accompany (especially ships) with an armed guard for protection: to convoy a fleet of merchant vessels. To escort is to accompany in order to protect, guard, honor, or show courtesy: to escort a visiting dignitary.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has accompaniedperfect 3rd person singular
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have accompaniedperfect
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am accompanyingprogressive 1st person singular
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are accompanyingprogressive
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accompaniessingular 3rd person
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have been accompanyingperfect progressive
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accompanyingparticiple
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has been accompanyingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is accompanyingprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had accompaniedperfect
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had been accompanyingperfect progressive
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accompaniedsimple
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accompaniedparticiple
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was accompanyingprogressive singular
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were accompanyingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of accompany
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English accompanye, from Middle French accompagnier; see ac-, company
Explanation
The verb accompany means to keep someone company, or to be their companion on a trip or journey. In a musical sense, accompany means to play background music for the lead singer or soloist. If you want your friend to keep you company on your way to the store, you could ask her to accompany you on the walk. Or, if you want your friend to play piano while you sing a song, you could ask her to accompany you on piano. Just don’t ask her to do both at the same time or your friend may not want to accompany you anywhere any longer.
Vocabulary lists containing accompany
The Circuit
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"Tribute to the Dog," Vocabulary from the speech
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"Lob's Girl" by Joan Aiken
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then there are the costs of in vitro fertilization and egg and embryo storage that can accompany later-in-life pregnancies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
And a problem for market bulls is that such a capex reduction may coincide with two classic markers that Perkins believes usually accompany a market top: insider selling and monetary tightening.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
Supporters believe it could eventually help musicians train more efficiently, avoid injury, and overcome physical limitations that often accompany years of intense practice.
From Science Daily • May 28, 2026
UK police are sending just three officers to the US to accompany England fans at the 2026 World Cup, after American authorities refused to provide funding.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
“Take the Shady Glen van. We could get more volunteers, and each one could accompany one of the residents. I bet they’d love it.”
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
