associate

[ verb uh-soh-shee-eyt, -see-; noun, adjective, uh-soh-shee-it, -eyt, -see- ]
See synonyms for: associateassociatedassociatesassociating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),as·so·ci·at·ed, as·so·ci·at·ing.
  1. to connect or bring into relation, as thought, feeling, memory, etc.: Many people associate dark clouds with depression and gloom.

  2. to join as a companion, partner, or ally: to associate oneself with a cause.

  1. to unite; combine: coal associated with shale.

verb (used without object),as·so·ci·at·ed, as·so·ci·at·ing.
  1. to enter into union; unite.

  2. to keep company, as a friend, companion, or ally: He was accused of associating with known criminals.

  1. to join together as partners or colleagues.

noun
  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.

  2. a companion or comrade: my most intimate associates.

  1. a confederate; an accomplice or ally: criminal associates.

  2. anything usually accompanying or associated with another; an accompaniment or concomitant.

  3. 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.

Origin of associate

1
First recorded in1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin associātus “joined to, united with” (past participle of associāre ), equivalent to as- as- + soci- (see social) + -ātus -ate1; compare Anglo-French associer (verb), associé (noun)

synonym study For associate

7, 8. See acquaintance.

Other words for associate

Opposites for associate

Other words from associate

  • as·so·ci·ate·ship, noun
  • re·as·so·ci·ate, verb, re·as·so·ci·at·ed, re·as·so·ci·at·ing.
  • su·per·as·so·ci·ate, noun

Words Nearby associate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use associate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for associate

associate

verb(əˈsəʊʃɪˌeɪt, -sɪ-) (usually foll by with)
  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

  1. (intr) to form or join an association, group, etc

  2. (tr; usually passive) to consider in conjunction; connect: rainfall is associated with humidity

  3. (tr) to bring (a person, esp oneself) into friendship, partnership, etc

  4. (tr; often passive) to express agreement or allow oneself to be connected (with): Bertrand Russell was associated with the peace movement

noun(əˈsəʊʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt, -sɪ-)
  1. a person joined with another or others in an enterprise, business, etc; partner; colleague

  2. a companion or friend

  1. something that usually accompanies another thing; concomitant: hope is an associate to happiness

  2. a person having a subordinate position in or admitted to only partial membership of an institution, association, etc

adjective(əˈsəʊʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt, -sɪ-) (prenominal)
  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

  1. accompanying; concomitant

Origin of associate

1
C14: from Latin associāre to ally with, from sociāre to join, from socius an ally

Derived forms of associate

  • associable, adjective
  • associator, noun
  • associatory, adjective
  • associateship, noun

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