associate

[uh-soh-shee-eyt, -see-, uh-soh-shee-it, -eyt, -see-]

verb (used with object)

associated, associating 

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)

associated, associating 

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

Other Word Forms

• associateship noun
• reassociate verb
• superassociate noun
• associator noun
• associatory adjective
• associable adjective

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

Qudsia Tahmina, co-author of the study and an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Ohio State, said the results highlight how easily mushrooms can be adapted for computing.

Read more on Science Daily

The recent bankruptcies of US companies First Brands and Tricolor have focused attention on risks associated with the growth in the private credit market, or lending outside traditional banks.

Read more on Barron's

The White House has said contributing companies, which are being asked to donate a lump sum or pay in up to three installments by 2027, are eligible for “recognition associated with the White House Ballroom.”

Read more on Salon

Fundamentally, AI complicates a preexisting problem: Often, instructors have put too little thought into homework, said Mollie Galloway, associate professor at the Graduate School of Education and Counseling at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Purity is usually associated with ideas about cleanliness, sanctity or avoiding contamination – so finding that it is associated with negative views about wealth gives new meaning to the phrase “filthy rich.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• accomplice 
• ally 
• assistant 
• buddy 
• co-worker 
• cohort 
• collaborator 
• companion 
• comrade 
• crony 
• fellow 
• friend 
• partner 

When To Use

What does associate mean?

An associate is a person who shares in business as a partner, stakeholder, or colleague.To associate is to connect or relate multiple things together.The noun form of associate, pronounced uh-soh-shee-it, often refers to a business partner but can also be used more generally to describe a friend or even an acquaintance.Associate is also used to describe more sinister partnerships, such as an accomplice in a crime or a member of a gang or crime organization.The verb form, pronounced uh-soh-shee-eyt, can be used to mean to connect or unite people. When you associate yourself with someone else, you may be working with them, you may be friends or romantic partners, or you may even be a customer. People who are associated will often be discussed in a pair or group.Associate can also mean to connect or relate, as with objects and feelings or memories. For example, you may associate naan with your grandmother who used to make this bread whenever you visited. Or you may associate a favorite book with the memory of a teacher who introduced you to the book.Example: I always associate gingerbread with the holidays, but it’s good all year round.