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

“What is the cost that you would associate with enjoying your life and being present to it? I don’t even know what that price tag would be,” Jaffe said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Annika Freden, associate professor in political science at Lund University, said Kristersson could expect to get the cold shoulder from the centre.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

His comments come after the Wall Street Journal reported that EU officials were open to a suggestion from Carney that Canada could become an "associate member" of the bloc, according to officials from both sides.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

Hence, the reason we associate “Hey Jude” with a soaring spirit of optimism is because of that repeating “na-na-na” chorus.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026

She started off as a reservations associate, then moved to gate agent after Charlie was born.

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya

The 43-year-old tech scion — a film aficionado who has spent two decades building his career in Hollywood — has told associates he doesn’t want to leave L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Kremlev repeatedly told associates he was worried about being targeted by a U.S. government probe, according to a person close to IBA leadership.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

This was something all Americans should defend, "including the associates of Elon Musk, who has proclaimed himself to be a 'free speech absolutist,'" the statement added.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

Sazan appealed to the infamously paranoid Hoxha as a vantage point from which he and his associates could look out for any invaders who might come sailing over the Mediterranean to interrupt his rule.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

One could assume that Withers and his associates were now in disgrace, but there had been no report of the matter in the press or on the telescreen.

From "1984" by George Orwell

While very high doses of acrylamide are associated with cancers in animal studies, it’s generally not thought to be harmful in the amounts you find in food.

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026

Authorities have also called for hunting in the affected area to be suspended until the extent of the disease and associated risks are established.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

“This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets,” Ballmer’s statement read.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Novel materials allow the helmets to weigh less than their competitors, which Esayian said reduces the energy associated with “head whip”—the motion of a player’s head after impact.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

Other kinds of music are also so likely to follow a particular overall plan that they have become associated with a particular form.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Ross’ popularity at the time of his death, along with his prolific output, translated into an afterlife associating him with kindness and encouragement.

From Salon ● May 2, 2026

Botstein has previously apologized for associating with Epstein, said he was unaware of the extent of his behavior and said he met with him to fundraise for the school.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

A big part of that stigma, Ambrose believes, is the unfortunate proliferation of associating breast cancer with the color pink.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

Another problem blew up out of Kepler’s eagerness to consolidate his new reputation by associating with other mathematicians and discussing his ideas with them.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

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