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View synonyms for companion

companion

1

[ kuhm-pan-yuhn ]

noun

  1. a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another:

    my son and his two companions.

    Synonyms: mate, partner, comrade, associate

  2. a person employed to accompany, assist, or live with another in the capacity of a helpful friend.
  3. a mate or match for something:

    White wine is the usual companion of fish.

  4. a handbook or guide:

    a bird watcher's companion.

  5. a member of the lowest rank in an order of knighthood or of a grade in an order.
  6. Also called companion star, comes. Astronomy. the fainter of the two stars that constitute a double star. Compare primary ( def 19b ).
  7. Obsolete. a fellow.

verb (used with object)

  1. to be a companion to; accompany.

companion

2

[ kuhm-pan-yuhn ]

noun

, Nautical.
  1. a covering over the top of a companionway.

companion

1

/ kəmˈpænjən /

noun

  1. a person who is an associate of another or others; comrade
  2. (esp formerly) an employee, usually a woman, who provides company for an employer, esp an elderly woman
    1. one of a pair; match
    2. ( as modifier )

      a companion volume

  4. a guidebook or handbook
  5. a member of the lowest rank of any of certain orders of knighthood
  6. astronomy the fainter of the two components of a double star

verb

  1. tr to accompany or be a companion to

companion

2

/ kəmˈpænjən /

noun

  1. nautical
    1. a raised frame on an upper deck with windows to give light to the deck below
    2. ( as modifier )

      a companion ladder

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Derived Forms

  • comˈpanionless, adjective

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Other Words From

  • com·panion·less adjective
  • uncom·panioned adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of companion1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English compainoun, from Anglo-French; Old French compaignon, from Late Latin compāniōn- (stem of compāniō ) “messmate,” equivalent to com- “with, together” + pān(is) “bread” + -iōn- noun suffix; presumably as translation of a Germanic word; compare Gothic gahlaiba, Old High German galeipo; com-, -ion

Origin of companion2

First recorded in 1730–40; alteration of Dutch kampanje “quarterdeck,” possibly from Italian compagna “pantry (of a ship)”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of companion1

C13: from Late Latin compāniō, literally: one who eats bread with another, from Latin com- with + pānis bread

Origin of companion2

C18: from Dutch kompanje quarterdeck, from Old French compagne, from Old Italian compagna pantry, perhaps ultimately from Latin pānis bread

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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

The strategy is to establish itself as the default companion app for CGMs, but to do so it will need to gain access to CGM-generated data.

For the past couple of months, our pets have become our coworkers, confidants, and constant companions.

When my companions and I passed an enticing swimming hole in the high desert of northeastern Nevada, I slipped into bikini bottoms in the parking lot and back out of them again afterward.

Players can work with online friends, as well as virtual running companions, toward shared goals—running a combined distance of 10 miles, for example, or collecting imaginary potions from different locations.

Yet, the two brothers are each other’s most frequent opera and wine-tasting companion.

But she soldiered on to the end, a loving and faithful companion in victory and defeat.

We continuously pause to pull them out while Zalwar Khan and his companion smirk at us and chew unbothered.

He meets his current companion, Sandra Lee, at a party in the Hamptons.

She claims to be bowled over by a genuine attraction to another older companion.

The device is plugged into the wall and the companion smartphone app instructs the device when to start recording.

The bear laughed and joined his companion, and the torpedo thundered away.

She took the fan from Madame Ratignolle and began to fan both herself and her companion.

A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above them both is a wife with her husband.

I was thinking of any thing but the Virgin, or the window, or the light; I was thinking of my companion—so fair, and so devout.

There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy.

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Related Words

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More About Companion

What does companion mean?

A companion is a person who frequently spends time with you, associates with you, or accompanies you when you go places.

Pets are also commonly considered companions.

The word companion implies that you spend a lot of time together. A person you call a companion can be a friend or a romantic partner. A travel companion is someone you travel with.

Companionship is the state of spending time with someone or having someone to spend time with—the state of having a companion or being someone’s companion.

Sometimes, a hired helper is called a companion, especially when they help to take care of an older person.

Companion is sometimes also used to refer to a thing that accompanies or complements something else, such as in the phrase companion piece, which often refers to an artistic work that pairs well with another work. More specifically, a companion refers to a handbook, guidebook, or field guide (the word is especially used in the titles of such books).

In astronomy, companion is used in a more specific way to refer to a companion star—the less bright star in a set of stars called a double star. (The brighter star is called the primary.)

Example: People make fun of older people for using dating sites, but the truth is that a lot of them are just lonely and looking for a companion.

Where does companion come from?

The first records of the word companion come from around 1300. It comes from a Late Latin word meaning “one who eats bread with another,” from the parts com-, “with,” and pānis, “bread.” The word company is based on the same roots.

A companion is someone who you spend time with, who’s often by your side. A companion can be a close friend or someone with whom you share a more intimate relationship, such as a sibling or partner. When people describe themselves as seeking a companion on a dating app, it typically means they’re looking for a romantic partner to spend a lot of time with, especially to enjoy the same activities together. Pets are often called companions since they’re often by our side and keep us company.

When something is called a companion to something else, it typically means the two things go together in some way. A certain book might be called a companion piece to another book when the two have the same themes or are similar in some other way. A certain food or drink can be called a companion to another when the two pair well together.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to companion?

  • companionship (noun)
  • companionless (adjective)
  • uncompanioned (adjective)

What are some synonyms for companion?

What are some words that share a root or word element with companion? 

 

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing companion?

 

How is companion used in real life?

Companion is often used when talking about human relationships, but it can also be applied to pets and things.

 

 

Try using companion!

Which of the following people could be considered a companion?

A. friend
B. partner
C. sibling
D. all of the above

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