associate

[ verb uh-soh-shee-eyt, -see-; noun adjective uh-soh-shee-it, -eyt, -see- ]

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.

   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.

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.

3. 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.

   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

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

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

Derived Forms

• asˈsociable, adjective
• asˈsociatory, adjective
• asˈsociateˌship, noun
• asˈsociˌator, noun

Other Words From

• as·so·ci·ate·ship noun
• re·as·so·ci·ate verb reassociated reassociating
• su·per·as·so·ci·ate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of associate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of associate¹

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

Synonym Study

See acquaintance.

Example Sentences

An extra review of the warrant by a commanding officer could have assessed the risk associated with acting on information that was reportedly wrong and outdated.

From Vox

Forty-three percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in the Pew Research Center survey said voter fraud is a “major problem” associated with mail-in ballots.

From Washington Post

That also means that there is hope for companies which are associated with the most unsustainable practices.

From Fortune

Potential transparency policies to improve patient safetyIn a research paper studying the risks associated with excipients, my co-author and I make three main recommendations to improve patient safety.

From Popular-Science

On TikTok, audio is often a key component of hashtag challenges, with particular clips of music associated with specific challenges.

From Digiday

Surenos are told when to workout, who to associate with and how to distribute any funds they make from illegal activity.

From The Daily Beast

Over at Sears, a sales associate makes just $8.44 an hour, $14,770.

From The Daily Beast

“He turned everybody he knew into somebody else he knew,” the former associate said.

From The Daily Beast

She lived it — civil rights and other issues that you associate from the family.

From The Daily Beast

She now serves as an Associate Professor at Colorado State University and has authored several books on autism and animal science.

From The Daily Beast

The reason we associate rhythm with the significance of time is that rhythm is a measurer of time.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not know what the scent was, but it smelled rich and artificial, and he disliked to associate it with his new friend.

From Project Gutenberg

With this political subjection one is reluctant to associate a more sordid kind of obligation.

From Project Gutenberg

Generally persons who associate for charitable or benevolent purposes do not regard themselves in a legal sense as partners.

From Project Gutenberg

And vowing to Him in an individual capacity, will not be accepted for vowing and swearing to Him in a public associate character.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• combine
• correlate
• identify
• join
• link
• mix
• relate

More About Associate

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.

Where does associate come from?

The first records of the term associate come from the 1400s. It ultimately comes from the Latin associātus, meaning “joined to” or “united.” Joining or uniting multiple parts is how you can associate two or more people or things.

In the United States and several other countries, university professors operate on a tenure track system that includes the rank of associate professor. An associate professor will have significantly more responsibilities than an entry-level assistant professor but will not have the decision-making power and security of a full professor.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to associate?

• associated (adjective, verb)
• associateship (noun)
• reassociate (verb)
• unassociated (adjective)

What are some synonyms for associate?

• co-worker
• partner
• combine
• relate
• join

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

• associated
• associative
• association

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

• accompany
• business
• mentally

How is associate used in real life?

Associate is most commonly used to talk about the connections we have with objects, memories and feelings, or other people.

someone said if i want to be fitter i should always take the stairs which i obviously don’t but now i associate all stairs with the feeling of guilt so that’s ruined for me

— Daniel Howell (@danielhowell) June 18, 2019

Some personal and professional news: after 21 years at NDTV, I am changing direction and moving on. Later this year, I start as an Associate Professor teaching journalism as part of Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences 1/n

— Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) June 13, 2020

I’m very picky when it comes to who I associate myself with/ who I consider a “friend” sorry, not sorry 🤷🏽‍♀️

— De'arra Taylor (@dearra) November 18, 2019

 

Try using associate!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for associate?

A. partner
B. enemy
C. colleague
D. fellow