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

Satizabal is co-senior author of the study with Chen-Pin Wang, PhD, associate professor-research in the Department of Population Health Sciences.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

Ms. Moinian is an associate fellow at the Middle East Institute and author of “Narratives of Grievance in Iranian Foreign Policy,” forthcoming in September 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

During an interview with MarketWatch, Robotti and Theo van der Meer, a senior investment associate with the firm, discussed three stocks they favor among companies producing, selling or servicing hard assets.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

Chiti is a longtime associate of Perry Minasian, fired as the Angels’ general manager in June.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

On February 1, King was himself arrested during a demonstration and led to jail with his associate the Reverend Ralph Abernathy.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman

His friends had called; his business associates had called.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

By the end of that year, associates said they recall seeing what looked like an engagement ring on Clark’s hand, and not long afterward, the couple wed in Italy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

In addition, the State Department said that it was imposing visa restrictions on 65 individuals who are family members or close personal or business associates of CJNG-linked persons.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

“I am no stranger to loss, but this is so incredibly tough, and my heart also goes out to all of the associates and customers who were there during this traumatic event.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

“At present,” he said, “I am responsible for conveying my associates to a place called Chicago. I understand it is somewhere in the hinterland.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Physical activity was particularly associated with slower cognitive decline among Hispanic participants, while lower fasting blood glucose levels were linked to slower cognitive decline among non-Hispanic white participants.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

Federal authorities are investigating billions in related-party loans made by two insurers owned by Mark Walter reportedly to entities associated with him or his holding company.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Several of our guests had an eye for what Vinod Khosla, the founder of Khosla Ventures, calls “option-value investing,” and the stomach to withstand the turbulence associated with it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Skates began experiencing dissociation, a symptom associated with anxiety and depression and described it as feeling detached from himself and reality.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Other firms would lose more, much more; but those losses were typically associated with the generation of subprime mortgage loans.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Nikolic previously said “Epstein was a master manipulator, and I deeply regret associating with him.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

Clinton's spokesperson has said the photos are decades old and Clinton had stopped associating with Epstein before his crimes came to light.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2026

“As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026

Days later, he offered a more direct apology to the victims of the disgraced financier, telling Newsnight he was "wrong" to continue associating with Epstein.

From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026

“And you’ve been associating colors with letters and numbers ever since.”

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass

Related Words

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