accord

[uh-kawrd]

verb (used without object)

1. to be in agreement or harmony; agree.

   Synonyms: concur, harmonize
   Antonyms: conflict

verb (used with object)

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.

accord

/ 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

verb

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

2. (tr) to grant; bestow

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of accord¹

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” ( cordial ); heart

Word History and Origins

Origin of accord¹

C12: via Old French from Latin ad- to + cord-, stem of cor heart

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   We did the extra work of our own accord.

see of one's own accord.

Synonym Study

See correspond.

Example Sentences

Disneyland security performed CPR until paramedics arrived, according to Anaheim Police Sgt.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At least 67,183 have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza since then, including 20,179 children, according to the territory's health ministry.

Read more on BBC

The number of Liberal Democrat party members has almost halved in the last five years, according to BBC analysis of available figures.

Read more on BBC

The investigation in Homan by the FBI was ended in early 2025, according to a report from the New York Times.

Read more on Salon

He was also convicted of attempted murder and a federal firearms charge, and had been sentenced to life imprisonment, according to the Atlanta Police Department.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• affirm 
• agree 
• conform 
• correspond 

When To Use

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.