accompaniment

[ uh-kuhm-puh-ni-muhnt, uh-kuhmp-ni- ]

noun

1. something incidental or added for ornament, symmetry, etc.
2. Music. a part in a composition designed to serve as background and support for more important parts.

accompaniment

/ əˈkʌmpnɪ-; əˈkʌmpənɪmənt /

noun

1. something that accompanies or is served or used with something else
2. something inessential or subsidiary that is added, as for ornament or symmetry
3. music a subordinate part for an instrument, voices, or an orchestra

Other Words From

• nonac·compa·ni·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of accompaniment¹

First recorded in 1725–35; accompany + -ment

Example Sentences

Patriarchal norms and socio-cultural values carry a great deal of weight and often prevent women from accessing the public sphere – such as courts and police stations – without the accompaniment of male guardians.

From No Straight News

Other helpful song arrangement tools—such as the Chord Track and Chord Selector tools that suggest and sketch out chord progressions—let you even manipulate existing audio and create new accompaniments with no music theory knowledge required.

From Popular-Science

The show will feature Ball reading her poems with musical accompaniment from her bandmate Norman Spence, who will be strumming a guitar.

From Washington Post

Arrange the cooked and raw accompaniments around the aioli on the platter or a plate, and serve.

From Washington Post

This massive book of crosswords is the perfect accompaniment to breakfast in bed with puzzles of all levels and difficulties.

From Time

He played it through once, singing the lyrics softly to his own guitar accompaniment.

From The Daily Beast

But in Jersey City the fight goes on, with fabulous organ accompaniment.

From The Daily Beast

At least one of those presentations is usually a silent film with organ accompaniment.

From The Daily Beast

Like many battle raps, the Total Slaughter battle is organized into three rounds with no accompaniment.

From The Daily Beast

Landays may be read, but true to their roots in oral tradition, they are frequently sung, sometimes with a drum for accompaniment.

From The Daily Beast

Then, as he neared the room, a sound of music floated out to meet him— Tony was singing to his own accompaniment.

From Project Gutenberg

She also played his Fourteenth Rhapsody with orchestral accompaniment in most bold and dashing style.

From Project Gutenberg

Left on a picket boat with Birdie to board my destroyer to an accompaniment of various denominations of projectiles.

From Project Gutenberg

She is like a canary bird; when others begin to speak, she hurries in her remarks, in an accompaniment.

From Project Gutenberg

The Elves Chorus is intended for boys voices in unison, with accompaniment for mixed chorus and orchestra.

From Project Gutenberg