partner

American  

[pahrt-ner] / ˈpɑrt nər /

noun

1. a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor; sharer; associate.

   Synonyms:

   accomplice, accessory, colleague

2. Law.

   1. a person associated with another or others as a principal or a contributor of capital in a business or a joint venture, usually sharing its risks and profits.

   2. special partner.

3. silent partner.

4. a spouse; a husband or a wife.

5. the person with whom one cohabits in a romantic relationship.

   I'd like you to meet my partner, Sarah.

6. either of two people who dance together.

   my favorite partner in the waltz.

7. a player on the same side or team as another.

   My tennis partner was an excellent player.

8. Nautical. partners, a framework of timber round a hole in a ship's deck, to support a mast, capstan, pump, etc.

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verb (used with object)

partners, present (3rd person singular) partnered, past participle, past partnering present participle

1. to associate as a partner or partners with.

2. to serve as the partner of.

partner British  

/ ˈpɑːtnə /

noun

1. an ally or companion

   a partner in crime

2. a member of a partnership

3. one of a pair of dancers or players on the same side in a game

   my bridge partner

4. either member of a couple in a relationship

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verb

1. to be or cause to be a partner (of)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underpartner
  noun
• nonpartner
  noun
• partnerless
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have partnered
  perfect
• is partnering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has partnered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been partnering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am partnering
  progressive 1st person singular
• partnering
  participle
• have been partnering
  perfect progressive
• are partnering
  progressive
• partners
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had partnered
  perfect
• had been partnering
  perfect progressive
• were partnering
  progressive plural
• partnered
  simple
• partnered
  participle
• was partnering
  progressive singular

Future

• will partner
  simple
• will have partnered
  perfect
• will be partnering
  progressive
• will have been partnering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of partner

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English partener, alteration of parcener by association with part

Explanation

If you open a lemonade stand with your brother, then your brother is your business partner. Partner means "to pair up." At a square dance, the call "partner up!" means it's time to find someone to dance with. In business, there are often multiple partners — each one owns a share of the business, and has a share of the risk. Some people call their spouse or the person they're in a long-term relationship with their partner — it has more egalitarian senses than "husband" or "wife," and signals commitment even if you're not married.

Example Sentences

In the years before founding Beacon, Ganenthiran was a partner at D1 Capital Partners and, before that, president of Instacart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Exports to China, Germany's biggest trading partner overall, slid by 3.5 percent, while shipments to fellow European Union countries were up one percent.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

"She was the leader of our community, and I wonder if somewhere that was also part of the reason her partner ended up hating her so much," says Milne.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Williams has won 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals in doubles, all with sister Venus Williams as her playing partner.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

“Are you always going to say the word partner like it tastes bad?”

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• ally
• associate
• colleague
• companion
• friend
• husband
• participant
• spouse
• wife