Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

associate

[verb uh-soh-shee-eyt, -see-; noun, adjective, uh-soh-shee-it, -eyt, -see-]
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
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.
  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.
  2. a companion or comrade: my most intimate associates.
  3. a confederate; an accomplice or ally: criminal associates.
  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.

Origin of associate

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin associātus joined to, united with (past participle of associāre), equivalent to as- as- + soci- (see social) + -ātus -ate1; compare Anglo-French associer (v.), associé (noun)
Related formsas·so·ci·ate·ship, nounnon·as·so·ci·at·ed, adjectivere·as·so·ci·ate, verb, re·as·so·ci·at·ed, re·as·so·ci·at·ing.su·per·as·so·ci·ate, nounun·as·so·ci·at·ed, adjectivewell-as·so·ci·at·ed, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
1. link.

Synonym study

7, 8. See acquaintance.

Antonyms

1. dissociate. 7–9. adversary.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for associating

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • No; I do not approve of your idea of associating with that young Mohammedan editor.

    The Book of Khalid

    Ameen Rihani

  • She was associating this tragedy with herself—as part of her life, her fate.

    The Golden Woman

    Ridgwell Cullum

  • Associating with the Professor improves any man's vocabulary, in spite of themselves.

    See?

    Edward G. Robles

  • To derive any benefit from associating with these people, I must at least seem to live like them.

    Lord Kilgobbin

    Charles Lever

  • To her the idea of associating with a wild, and unruly character like this was insupportable.

    Arthur O'Leary

    Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for associating

associate

verb (əˈsəʊʃɪˌeɪt, -sɪ-) (usually foll by with)
  1. (tr) to link or connect in the mind or imaginationto associate Christmas with fun
  2. (intr) to keep company; mix sociallyto associate with writers
  3. (intr) to form or join an association, group, etc
  4. (tr; usually passive) to consider in conjunction; connectrainfall 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 (əˈsəʊʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt, -sɪ-)
  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; concomitanthope 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 (əˈsəʊʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt, -sɪ-) (prenominal)
  1. joined with another or others in an enterprise, business, etc; having equal or nearly equal statusan associate director
  2. having partial rights and privileges or subordinate statusan associate member
  3. accompanying; concomitant
Derived Formsassociable, adjectiveassociator, nounassociatory, adjectiveassociateship, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Latin associāre to ally with, from sociāre to join, from socius an ally
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for associating

associate

v.

mid-15c., from Latin associatus past participle of associare "join with," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + sociare "unite with," from socius "companion" (see social (adj.)). Related: Associated; associating. Earlier form of the verb was associen (late 14c.), from Old French associier "associate (with)."

associate

n.

1530s, from associate (adj.).

associate

adj.

early 15c., "allied, connected, paired," from Latin associatus, past participle of associare (see associate (v.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper