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)
Related Words
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
- accompanier noun
- nonaccompanying adjective
- reaccompany verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of accompany
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English accompanye, from Middle French accompagnier; ac-, company
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.
"Various solutions will of course be proposed to address the problems that, unfortunately, accompany these restrictions," said Peskov, without confirming that the shutdowns were due to the white lists testing.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
Males may also accompany females closely or compete directly with rival males in intense physical encounters.
From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026
McArdle said she "accepts that apology" but added that "it is how she will work towards implementing the recommendations" and called for care partners to be able to "accompany" loved ones in hospital.
From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026
But these actions accompany a powerful history that many prefer to overlook.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
When the shots were fired, the president's aide and his friend since college, Colonel Almon Rockwell, was in the station ready to accompany the Garfields on their summer trip.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
