accompany

[ uh-kuhm-puh-nee ]

verb (used with object)

, ac·com·pa·nied, ac·com·pa·ny·ing.

1. to go along or in company with; join in action:

   to accompany a friend on a walk.

2. to be or exist in association or company with:

   Thunder accompanies lightning.

3. to put in company with; cause to be or go along; associate (usually followed by with ):

   He accompanied his speech with gestures.

4. Music. to play or sing an accompaniment to or for.

verb (used without object)

, ac·com·pa·nied, ac·com·pa·ny·ing.

1. to provide the musical accompaniment.

accompany

/ əˈkʌmpənɪ; əˈkʌmpnɪ /

verb

1. tr to go along with, so as to be in company with or escort
2. trfoll bywith to supplement

   the food is accompanied with a very hot mango pickle

3. tr to occur, coexist, or be associated with
4. to provide a musical accompaniment for (a performer)

Derived Forms

• acˈcompanier, noun

Other Words From

• non·ac·com·pa·ny·ing adjective
• re·ac·com·pa·ny verb (used with object) reaccompanied reaccompanying

Word History and Origins

Origin of accompany¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English accompanye, from Middle French accompagnier; ac-, company

Word History and Origins

Origin of accompany¹

C15: from Old French accompaignier, from compaing companion ¹

Synonym Study

Accompany, attend, convoy, escort mean to go along with someone (or something). To accompany is to go along as an associate on equal terms: to accompany a friend on a shopping trip. Attend implies going along with, usually to render service or perform duties: to attend one's employer on a business trip. To convoy is to accompany (especially ships) with an armed guard for protection: to convoy a fleet of merchant vessels. To escort is to accompany in order to protect, guard, honor, or show courtesy: to escort a visiting dignitary.

Example Sentences

During the course of the Nakba, the removal of Palestinians from their lands was accompanied by the renaming of sites and often by planting trees on the sites of villages, terraced fields and olive groves.

From Salon

Mr Headley, who was accompanied by his solicitor, was not asked to enter pleas on the two charges against him.

From BBC

As a child, I accompanied my mother to buy ingredients for Nigerian dishes in Upton Park, an area of East London known for its South Asian community.

From New York Times

Even when Israeli and international activists accompany villagers to their olive groves, hoping to deter the threat, there’s no guarantee of safety.

From BBC

By contrast, “Gangplank Galleon,” which accompanies the game’s climactic pirate ship boss fight, begins in the frisky style of an accordion-led sea shanty.

From New York Times

Related Words

• attend
• escort
• follow
• guide
• lead