accord
Americanverb (used without object)
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accords,
present (3rd person singular)
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accorded,
past participle, past
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according
present participle
verb (used with object)
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accords,
present (3rd person singular)
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accorded,
past participle, past
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according
present participle
noun
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accords
plural
idioms
noun
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agreement; conformity; accordance (esp in the phrase in accord with )
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consent or concurrence of opinion
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unanimously
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pleasing relationship between sounds, colours, etc; harmony
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a settlement of differences, as between nations; compromise
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voluntarily
verb
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to be or cause to be in harmony or agreement
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(tr) to grant; bestow
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
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accordernoun
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nonaccordnoun
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preaccordnoun
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accordableadjective
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unaccordableadjective
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unaccordedadjective
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well-accordedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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accordsimple
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accordssimple
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have accordedperfect
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has accordedperfect
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am accordingprogressive
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are accordingprogressive
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is accordingprogressive
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have been accordingperfect progressive
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has been accordingperfect progressive
Past
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accordedsimple
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had accordedperfect
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was accordingprogressive
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were accordingprogressive
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had been accordingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing accord
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
During the course of 2025-26, 11 bosses parted company with their clubs, with only Enzo Maresca's resignation at Chelsea happening of his own accord.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
Orlando Alvarado, a name not disclosed by the Trump administration as a party to the accord, signed the agreement on behalf of the parent company, alongside Betancourt, Hegseth and Rubio.
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
In Friday's ruling, Johnson said it "has long been Mr Turk's case" that the £750,000 payment was made on Isbilen's own accord as she believed Mountbatten-Windsor could help with her husband.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Food insecurity affects around 260 million people worldwide, accord to UN figures.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The Victoria's commander ordered the ship to proceed full speed toward shore, intending to ground her there in accord with standing fleet orders meant to make it easier to raise a sunken ship.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
But the logic of the accords has grown stronger.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Posting on X, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Saudi Arabia joining the accords "would be an historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East".
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
These accords involve Arab or Muslim countries normalizing relations with Israel.
From Slate ● 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
“It is here written, ‘Seven entered Meereen to sign the peace accords and witness the celebratory games at the Pit of Daznak.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
You’ll notice that the coyote isn’t even accorded a jury of his peers, merely two animated jurors out of 12, and one is a silly goose.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
In the 2000s, derivatives created from subprime mortgages were accorded top credit ratings; now, the so-called illiquidity premium on portfolios of loans to small and midsize private companies is considered their secret sauce.
From Barron's ● Mar. 27, 2026
The quiet welcome accorded Trump in Tokyo on Monday is in line with the nature of the trip to Japan, Trump’s fourth as president, which is billed as a working visit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2025
But the authorities are adamant that the former president should be accorded a state funeral to be attended by his successor and given a proper send-off as a former president.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 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
Young veterans in particular are more likely to fall behind on debt payments, such as car loans, in the months following their separation from the military, according to USAA.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026
China’s exports were up 35% year-over-year in October, according to figures from data provider CEIC.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026
Power usage in Spain fell by 7.5% during the early hours of Wednesday, according to data from operator Red Eléctrica.
From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2026
Historically, manufacturers have kept production running even in cycles of soft demand, in part due to high fixed costs, according to Daryanani.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026
By the end of 2006, according to the PerTrac Hedge Fund Database Study, there were 13,675 hedge funds reporting results, and thousands of other types of institutional investors allowed to invest in credit default swaps.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
