accord

American  

[uh-kawrd] / əˈkɔrd /

verb (used without object)

accords, present (3rd person singular) accorded, past participle, past according present participle

1. to be in agreement or harmony; agree.

   Synonyms:

   concur, harmonize

   Antonyms:

   conflict

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verb (used with object)

accords, present (3rd person singular) accorded, past participle, past according present participle

1. to make agree or correspond; adapt.

   Synonyms:

   reconcile

2. to grant; bestow.

   to accord due praise.

   Antonyms:

   withdraw, deny, withhold

3. Archaic. to settle; reconcile.

noun

accords plural

1. proper relationship or proportion; harmony.

2. a harmonious union of sounds, colors, etc.

3. consent or concurrence of opinions or wills; agreement.

4. an international agreement; settlement of questions outstanding among nations.

idioms

1. of one's own accord, without being asked or told; voluntarily.

   We did the extra work of our own accord.

accord British  

/ əˈkɔːd /

noun

1. agreement; conformity; accordance (esp in the phrase in accord with )

2. consent or concurrence of opinion

3. unanimously

4. pleasing relationship between sounds, colours, etc; harmony

5. a settlement of differences, as between nations; compromise

6. voluntarily

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verb

1. to be or cause to be in harmony or agreement

2. (tr) to grant; bestow

accord More Idioms  

1. see of one's own accord.

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Usage

What does accord mean? To accord is to agree or be in harmony with someone or something. Accord is usually used formally to mean to work together. It is often used in official decrees, analysis of public figures, and governmental affairs. Related to this, an accord is an agreement. In particular when nations agree to something, we often say they have reached an accord, as with the Paris Climate Accords. To accord can also mean to grant or bestow. Oftentimes an item that is accorded is something that will strengthen a relationship or agreement, as with according someone praise or forgiveness. Example: Failure to reach an accord will mean the battle will continue for years to come.

Synonym Usage

See correspond.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• accorder
  noun
• nonaccord
  noun
• preaccord
  noun
• accordable
  adjective
• unaccordable
  adjective
• unaccorded
  adjective
• well-accorded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accords
  plural

Participles

• according
  present
• accorded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• accord
  simple
• accords
  simple
• have accorded
  perfect
• has accorded
  perfect
• am according
  progressive
• are according
  progressive
• is according
  progressive
• have been according
  perfect progressive
• has been according
  perfect progressive

Past

• accorded
  simple
• had accorded
  perfect
• was according
  progressive
• were according
  progressive
• had been according
  perfect progressive

Future

• will accord
  simple
• will have accorded
  perfect
• will be according
  progressive
• will have been according
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of accord

First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English a(c)corden, late Old English acordan, from Old French acorder, from Vulgar Latin accordāre (unrecorded), from Latin ac- ac- + cor (stem cord- ) “heart” ( see cordial); see also heart

Explanation

An accord is an agreement between groups or even nations, like a formal peace accord that prevents war or the accord between you and your sister specifying who gets to use the car on which days. Accord is an agreeable word. If you and your best friend are always in accord, you agree about everything. And if you do something of your own accord, you do it without prompting from someone else. As a verb, accord means to be in harmony or agreement, or to allow. Perhaps your enhanced vocabulary will accord you, or allow you, a better understanding of language.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accord accords accorded according

Canadian producer prices declined in June, marking the first month-over-month drop in five months, after a tentative accord between the U.S. and Iran led to lower energy prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

If negotiations were to resume, it’s unclear whether Trump and his coterie of negotiators have the stamina or the foreign service expertise to bring about an accord.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

The confrontation exposed the flaws in the loosely worded interim peace accord, which promises free passage through the strait but leaves unclear who will control, coordinate and police the route.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Police were eventually called to the scene before the bull left "of its own accord", he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

He decided to come, of his own accord.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

These accords involve Arab or Muslim countries normalizing relations with Israel.

From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026

Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan have since also signed the accords.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

"The Claw" now stands on the same storied lawn where president Bill Clinton hosted the 1993 Oslo peace accords signing and Richard Nixon gave his final farewell.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

Each turnover being a rare event, most every fresh host has been greeted with a chorus of “Who? What? Why?” before time accords the newcomer a patina of inevitability.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

He has, as a consequence of his crime, not only forfeited his liberty, but all his personal rights except those which the law in its humanity accords to him.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Selecting a Thanksgiving day was a royal prerogative, he declared, accorded solely to him as the representative of the Catholic King James II. Andros named Dec. 1 as Thanksgiving Day for all New England.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025

That AFP was accorded rare access to film and photograph a competition for women and girls was itself a sign of greater official openness.

From Barron's ● Nov. 17, 2025

Fans — many? most? all? — saw these arrests as special bad treatment accorded to a famous person, but, says Reubens, “30 years later, I still feel the effects all the time.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2025

“Freedom of speech and of press is accorded aliens residing in this country,” Douglas wrote.

From Slate ● Apr. 3, 2025

“It repeats me to the heart,” be said, “that you should dunk so, my lord Sir Gawaine, for I know that while you are against me I shall never more be accorded with the King.”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

In 2025, the county recorded 10 heat-related deaths, according to a new dashboard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

After winning in a recount, Nanos sidelined deputies who had supported Lappin, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Both traditional and impact asset managers remain committed to sustainable investing practices despite political headwinds, according to one survey.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

The deal, according to people with knowledge of the trade not authorized to speak publicly, comes ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

But Markie’s getting the house in the divorce settlement; he’ll stay put and his parents will move in and out according to their allotted time with him.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• affirm
• agree
• conform
• correspond