accord

American  

[uh-kawrd] / əˈkɔrd /

verb (used without object)

• accords,
  present (3rd person singular)
• accorded,
  past participle,  past
• according
  present participle

1. to be in agreement or harmony; agree.

   Synonyms:

   concur, harmonize

   Antonyms:

   conflict

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verb (used with object)

• accords,
  present (3rd person singular)
• accorded,
  past participle,  past
• according
  present participle

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

• accords
  plural

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.

idioms

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

   We did the extra work of our own accord.

accord British  

/ 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

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verb

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

2. (tr) to grant; bestow

accord More Idioms  

1. see of one's own accord.

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Usage

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.

Synonym Usage

See correspond.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accords
  plural

Participles

• according
  present
• accorded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• accord
  simple
• accords
  simple
• have accorded
  perfect
• has accorded
  perfect
• am according
  progressive
• are according
  progressive
• is according
  progressive
• have been according
  perfect progressive
• has been according
  perfect progressive

Past

• accorded
  simple
• had accorded
  perfect
• was according
  progressive
• were according
  progressive
• had been according
  perfect progressive

Future

• will accord
  simple
• will have accorded
  perfect
• will be according
  progressive
• will have been according
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of accord

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” ( see cordial); see also heart

Explanation

An accord is an agreement between groups or even nations, like a formal peace accord that prevents war or the accord between you and your sister specifying who gets to use the car on which days. Accord is an agreeable word. If you and your best friend are always in accord, you agree about everything. And if you do something of your own accord, you do it without prompting from someone else. As a verb, accord means to be in harmony or agreement, or to allow. Perhaps your enhanced vocabulary will accord you, or allow you, a better understanding of language.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accord accords accorded according

Zuckerberg said the accord gives the "American people and customers the confidence that the technology works" as intended, calling the meeting a "historic conversation".

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

I was alternately excited and apprehensive to take part, and my editor would like me to note that I pitched this story on my own accord.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

A ceasefire and demilitarisation accord is signed the next day in Sarajevo under UN auspices, but it is never respected.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Warsh spoke last year of writing an updated version of the 1951 accord.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

His legs seemed to move of their own accord as Father Olufemi gestured toward the basket a final time, then stepped back to give him space.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

But the logic of the accords has grown stronger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

The accords, launched by Nasa in 2020, are non-binding and require no parliamentary ratification, membership fee or financial contribution to sign.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

He has made climate accords with foreign nations, jetted to Beijing to meet Xi Jinping, and committed California to a net-zero “partnership” with China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

These accords involve Arab or Muslim countries normalizing relations with Israel.

From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026

He has, as a consequence of his crime, not only forfeited his liberty, but all his personal rights except those which the law in its humanity accords to him.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

The court’s authority under the Rome Statute, the judges ruled, overrides immunity accorded heads of state under treaties such as the Vienna Convention, which governs diplomatic relations between governments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

You’ll notice that the coyote isn’t even accorded a jury of his peers, merely two animated jurors out of 12, and one is a silly goose.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

That AFP was accorded rare access to film and photograph a competition for women and girls was itself a sign of greater official openness.

From Barron's ● Nov. 17, 2025

Traditionally, all ex-leaders have been accorded state funerals and buried at Embassy Park, which is specifically reserved for them.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2025

Birth and blood accorded him a seat upon the dais at the end of the high table, beside a wall.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Ross entered a not guilty plea and demanded a jury trial, according to a document filed by his defense attorney Bradley Horenstein.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

It will take 7 hours and 50 minutes for the crew to reach the ISS where they will be conducting experiments and research toward future missions to the Moon and Mars, according to Nasa.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

When Zuckerberg launched Muse on Sept. 8, it intensified a race with Apple, according to Bank of America’s Wamsi Mohan.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

The reason isn’t a new belief that Moscow is open to talks, according to European officials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

“Frank picked up a bench or plank and retreated back,” according to a later courtroom account recorded by Andrew Jackson.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• affirm
• agree
• conform
• correspond