associate

American  

[uh-soh-shee-eyt, -see-, uh-soh-shee-it, -eyt, -see-] / əˈsoʊ ʃiˌeɪt, -si-, əˈsoʊ ʃi ɪt, -ˌeɪt, -si- /

verb (used with object)

• associates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• associated,
  past participle,  past
• associating
  present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

• associates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• associated,
  past participle,  past
• associating
  present participle

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

• associates
  plural

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 British  

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

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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

Usage

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.

Synonym Usage

See acquaintance.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• associates
  plural

Participles

• associating
  present
• associated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• associate
  simple
• associates
  simple
• have associated
  perfect
• has associated
  perfect
• am associating
  progressive
• are associating
  progressive
• is associating
  progressive
• have been associating
  perfect progressive
• has been associating
  perfect progressive

Past

• associated
  simple
• had associated
  perfect
• was associating
  progressive
• were associating
  progressive
• had been associating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will associate
  simple
• will have associated
  perfect
• will be associating
  progressive
• will have been associating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of associate

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin associātus “joined to, united with” (past participle of associāre ), equivalent to as- as- + soci- ( see social) + -ātus -ate ¹; compare Anglo-French associer (verb), associé (noun)

Explanation

As a verb, associate can mean to make a connection between things or concepts. You might associate the smell of lemons with summer memories of selling lemonade. Or, with polishing your furniture with Lemon Pledge. As a noun, in employment, an associate is someone who is in a junior position. You might hear about associates at law firms, hoping to make partner one day. However, some companies also use associate to mean any employee, regardless of rank or seniority. The noun associate can also mean a friend or someone you keep company with. And, as a verb, associate can also mean to keep company with — like when you were associating with activists at the protest march.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

associate associates associated associating

In many ways, it is difficult to associate the song, with its sophomoric romantic lyrics, with the “Rubber Soul” era.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

McCarthy, an associate professor at the Manchester School of Physiotherapy, says the right pillow will depend on what position you sleep in.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

As Levine was dissecting the painting, an associate professor of Spanish historical linguistics at Utrecht University named Dorien Nieuwenhuijsen was researching her family tree.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

Persistent inflation has disproportionately impacted low-income households, which spend more of their income on necessities, said Alexander Smith, associate economics professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Department of Social Science and Policy Studies.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

Although we associate rounds with children, there are many complex and lengthy rounds with more serious topics for adults.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

A Stanford Law School lab looking at AI in legal services tried a negotiation simulator with summer associates from the global law firm Dechert.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

Kremlev repeatedly told associates he was worried about being targeted by a U.S. government probe, according to a person close to IBA leadership.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

This was something all Americans should defend, "including the associates of Elon Musk, who has proclaimed himself to be a 'free speech absolutist,'" the statement added.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

“Let them see the face of something that associates them with what truly is at stake.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

The method which he and his associates evolved is today a shining model but one too little emulated.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

In recent weeks, top AI leaders including OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic boss Dario Amodei have urged the industry to slow the pace of development due to concerns about risks associated with the technology.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

The company has been transitioning duties associated with Waldron’s COO role to its finance chief Denis Coleman over the past year, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Their British approach to R&B prized tightness, clarity, and buoyant precision over the loose, improvisational grit often associated with American soul.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

Metz, which changed hands between France and Germany in past conflicts, is associated with Robert Schuman, considered one of the founding fathers of the European Union, who is buried just outside the city.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Molly forced the window open wider, her hands not yet claws, but still a ghastly gray that she associated with her monstrous form.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

“The problem with associating a person with a technology is that that technology suddenly becomes a solution for everything,” he said, because their bonus depends on it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

Staley has previously said he didn’t know about Epstein’s crimes and regretted associating with him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

As a historian who had come across the Church of England's links to slavery as a student, for many years Mallett had long been conflicted about associating with the institution.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

How have you really held on to this DIY ethos while now associating yourself with a bigger label?

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

When a letter from Reginald arrived, I never dreamed of associating the two letters, although I knew that Reginald had been spending a lot of time with Wilfred, Hilda, and Philbert in Detroit.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

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