accompaniment

American  

[uh-kuhm-puh-ni-muhnt, uh-kuhmp-ni-] / əˈkʌm pə nɪ mənt, əˈkʌmp nɪ- /

noun

• accompaniments
  plural

1. something incidental or added for ornament, symmetry, etc.

2. Music. a part in a composition designed to serve as background and support for more important parts.

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accompaniment British  

/ əˈkʌmpnɪ-, əˈkʌmpənɪmənt /

noun

1. something that accompanies or is served or used with something else

2. something inessential or subsidiary that is added, as for ornament or symmetry

3. music a subordinate part for an instrument, voices, or an orchestra

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonaccompaniment
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accompaniments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of accompaniment

First recorded in 1725–35; accompany + -ment

Explanation

If your menu tonight consists of grilled pork and savory apples, then the pork is the main item and the apples are the accompaniment, meaning they complement the main dish. The noun accompaniment entered English in the eighteenth century and originally was used in a musical sense to describe a part in a song that supports or acts as background for another more prominent part. Its meaning later expanded to include not only musical assistance but other things that completes or make better the main thing. You’ll often hear it used to describe a food that supports the main item on a plate.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accompaniment accompaniments

With Gershwin’s jazzy accompaniment, the ballet has been described as “tap dance on pointe,” and staying warm is a requirement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Rather, it was accompaniment: feeding, sheltering, driving, watching, and warning so no one had to move in isolation.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Ms. Salvant’s 2023 release, “Mélusine,” included songs that dated back to the 12th century, sung in four languages, and made prominent use of the theorbo, the plucked lute used for Baroque basso continuo accompaniment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

It’s the perfect accompaniment to the sight of Harper and Yasmin, dancing together at a club, relieved to have waved the white flag, at least for tonight.

From Salon ● Mar. 1, 2026

Then I slap my palms in three sets of three on the table, like a tabla accompaniment: "I. Am. Black," I say.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

Elegantly played laments and dances were woven between the text sections, and sometimes skillfully repurposed as their background accompaniments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2025

Speaking of sides and accompaniments, you need some color: A sheet pan overflowing with a mix of vegetables like acorn squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli/broccolini, Brussel sprouts or anything else that looks good is always beautiful.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2024

A misshapen, pocked rectangle of line-caught ling cod carried a wafting fishy scent, its surface over-salted and cooked hard, the interior flesh chewing into little fibers, the plating indifferent, the accompaniments misguided.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 7, 2023

Wang, along with Dudamel, who was propulsive and extravagantly detailed in the accompaniments, went instead for the dynamism of our times.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2023

Soft piano or violin concertos with orchestral accompaniments work well.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin