accompany

[ uh-kuhm-puh-nee ]

/ əˈkʌm pə ni /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR accompany ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ac·com·pa·nied, ac·com·pa·ny·ing.

to go along or in company with; join in action: to accompany a friend on a walk.

to be or exist in association or company with: Thunder accompanies lightning.

to put in company with; cause to be or go along; associate (usually followed by with): He accompanied his speech with gestures.

Music. to play or sing an accompaniment to or for.

verb (used without object), ac·com·pa·nied, ac·com·pa·ny·ing.

to provide the musical accompaniment.

Nearby words

Origin of accompany

1425–75; late Middle English accompanye < Middle French accompagnier. See ac-, company

Related formsnon·ac·com·pa·ny·ing, adjectivere·ac·com·pa·ny, verb (used with object), re·ac·com·pa·nied, re·ac·com·pa·ny·ing.well-ac·com·pa·nied, adjective

Synonym study

1. Accompany, attend, convoy, escort mean to go along with someone (or something). To accompany is to go along as an associate on equal terms: to accompany a friend on a shopping trip. Attend implies going along with, usually to render service or perform duties: to attend one's employer on a business trip. To convoy is to accompany (especially ships) with an armed guard for protection: to convoy a fleet of merchant vessels. To escort is to accompany in order to protect, guard, honor, or show courtesy: to escort a visiting dignitary.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for accompany

He subsequently asked a reporter to accompany him as he dared to share his story with the police for the first time.
Victim: I Watched British MPs Rape and Murder Young Boys|Nico Hines|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The coroner would also note the tiny hemorrhages that accompany strangulation.
Indiana Serial Killer’s Confession Was Just the Start|Michael Daly|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His book openly and honestly explores the spiritual issues that accompany great suffering.
Book Bag: Reading Your Way Out Of Grief|Anna Whiston-Donaldson|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And also, for what reason about 30 military vehicles that accompany the convoy have no plates on them.
Putin’s “Humanitarian” Convoy Nears Ukraine, APCs Cross in Secret|Anna Nemtsova|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

To accompany breakfast or lunch, there's hibiscus lavender tea or locally roasted Bumper Crop coffee.
Spaghetti for Breakfast?! Not So Crazy at This Idaho Farm Café|Jane & Michael Stern|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
During his stay at the Cape numerous volunteers offered to accompany him to Sydney, many from on board the ships in the bay.
The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson|Ida Lee
With quick apologies she made ready to accompany him down-stairs.
The Agony Column|Earl Derr Biggers
Also, to her horror, she discovered that nothing would induce Ellen to accompany her.
Joanna Godden|Sheila Kaye-Smith
It would be a useless sacrilege to force some listless acquaintance to accompany us.
Worldly Ways and Byways|Eliot Gregory
If he were not, I could not admit him to accompany me to him upon any condition.
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)|Samuel Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for accompany

accompany

/ (əˈkʌmpənɪ, əˈkʌmpnɪ) /

verb -nies, -nying or -nied

(tr) to go along with, so as to be in company with or escort

(tr foll by with) to supplementthe food is accompanied with a very hot mango pickle

(tr) to occur, coexist, or be associated with

to provide a musical accompaniment for (a performer)

Derived Formsaccompanier, noun

Word Origin for accompany

C15: from Old French accompaignier, from compaing companion 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for accompany

accompany

early 15c., "to be in company with," from Middle French accompagner, from Old French acompaignier (12c.) "take as a companion," from à "to" (see ad-) + compaignier, from compaign (see companion). Related: Accompanied; accompanying.