accord
Americanverb (used without object)
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accords,
present (3rd person singular)
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accorded,
past participle, past
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according
present participle
verb (used with object)
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accords,
present (3rd person singular)
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accorded,
past participle, past
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according
present participle
noun
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accords
plural
idioms
noun
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agreement; conformity; accordance (esp in the phrase in accord with )
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consent or concurrence of opinion
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unanimously
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pleasing relationship between sounds, colours, etc; harmony
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a settlement of differences, as between nations; compromise
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voluntarily
verb
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to be or cause to be in harmony or agreement
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(tr) to grant; bestow
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
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accordernoun
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nonaccordnoun
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preaccordnoun
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accordableadjective
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unaccordableadjective
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unaccordedadjective
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well-accordedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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accordsimple
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accordssimple
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have accordedperfect
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has accordedperfect
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am accordingprogressive
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are accordingprogressive
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is accordingprogressive
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have been accordingperfect progressive
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has been accordingperfect progressive
Past
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accordedsimple
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had accordedperfect
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was accordingprogressive
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were accordingprogressive
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had been accordingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing accord
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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ASVAB Word Knowledge
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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.
See Examples For:
Under the terms approved Wednesday, the two sides must reach an accord on the cost of those additional services by October 2027.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Jacobson described the trade accord as a priority, saying "we're confident that the governments will be able to work through it."
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
If negotiations were to resume, it’s unclear whether Trump and his coterie of negotiators have the stamina or the foreign service expertise to bring about an accord.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
The confrontation exposed the flaws in the loosely worded interim peace accord, which promises free passage through the strait but leaves unclear who will control, coordinate and police the route.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
He decided to come, of his own accord.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
These accords involve Arab or Muslim countries normalizing relations with Israel.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026
Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan have since also signed the accords.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The 2015 Paris climate accords aimed to limit global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels -- and preferably below 1.5C.
From Barron's ● May 28, 2026
Each turnover being a rare event, most every fresh host has been greeted with a chorus of “Who? What? Why?” before time accords the newcomer a patina of inevitability.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
Such a hypothesis accords as well with the animism found in ethnographic societies the world over.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
In the 2000s, derivatives created from subprime mortgages were accorded top credit ratings; now, the so-called illiquidity premium on portfolios of loans to small and midsize private companies is considered their secret sauce.
From Barron's ● Mar. 27, 2026
Unusually for a foreign national, Sir Mark was accorded two of India's top civilian honours: the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan.
From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2026
Selecting a Thanksgiving day was a royal prerogative, he declared, accorded solely to him as the representative of the Catholic King James II. Andros named Dec. 1 as Thanksgiving Day for all New England.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025
Fans — many? most? all? — saw these arrests as special bad treatment accorded to a famous person, but, says Reubens, “30 years later, I still feel the effects all the time.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2025
In the courtroom, Issy Maisels introduced him to the judges and they accorded him a seat of honor.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
At least five people have died after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia early on Saturday morning, according to the provincial governor.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
And while social status and widespread name recognition can help, they are hardly a guarantee, according to some people connected to the club.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Feeling guilt is "natural" according to Dr Caroline Ficker, a palliative vet who says she was "knocked for six" after her own dog Brodie died.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Arday, 41, was found unresponsive Friday afternoon at an address in south London, according to the capital's Metropolitan Police Service, which did not confirm the identity of the deceased person discovered.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
The door rattled forcefully, the windows opened and shut; according to Charles, “everything movable in the room seemed in motion.”
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
