accompany

verb

ac·​com·​pa·​ny ə-ˈkəmp-nē 

-ˈkämp-;

-ˈkəm-pə-, 

-ˈkäm- 

accompanied; accompanying

transitive verb

1

: to go with as an associate or companion

She accompanied me to the store.

2

: to perform an accompaniment to or for

He will be accompanying her on the piano.

3

a

: to cause to be in association

accompanied their advice with a warning

b

: to be in association with

the pictures that accompany the text

intransitive verb

music : to perform an accompaniment

Synonyms of accompany

• escort
• attend
• see
• bring
• companion

Examples of accompany in a Sentence

She will accompany me to the store.

Ten adults accompanied the class on their field trip.

Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult to see this movie.

A delicious sauce accompanied the grilled fish.

He will be accompanying her on the piano.

Recent Examples on the Web

That toll has continued to rise amid Israeli strikes despite the current ceasefire, while the process of rebuilding the territory and accompanying peace efforts have been overshadowed by the war with Iran. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026

There will be a raising of a fire engine ladder to the sixth floor, accompanied by FDNY bagpipes. —Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026

He was accompanied by his business partner, Antonio Intriago, who is also a defendant in the federal case. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026

Anyone reading about the Vegas lifestyle and the accompanying harms of gambling addiction should realize that spreading this activity to as many people as possible was bound to cause problems. —Brendan King, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English accompanien "to make (someone) a companion or associate, be in company with, attend," borrowed from Anglo-French acumpainer, acompaigner "to join together, frequent, keep the company of," from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + cumpaing, cumpaignun companion entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for accompany

• company
• intercompany

Kids Definition

accompany

verb

ac·​com·​pa·​ny ə-ˈkəmp-(ə-)nē 

accompanied; accompanying

1

: to go with or attend as a companion

2

: to perform an accompaniment to or for

3

: to occur at the same time as or along with

a thunderstorm accompanied by high winds

Etymology

Middle English accompanien "to accompany," from early French acompaigner (same meaning), from a- "to" and cumpaing "companion," from Latin companio "companion" — related to companion, company