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

• attend
• chaperone
• chaperon
• companion
• company
• convoy
• escort
• see
• squire

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

Lawson accompanied them and was arrested along with other Freedom Riders in Mississippi after some of the protesters entered the whites-only restrooms at the Jackson terminal. —Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024

His parole officer called him in for a meeting, where Phillip was accompanied by Nancy, his two daughters, and Jaycee, who was going by the name Alissa. —Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 10 June 2024

The heavy air and ground assault that accompanied the rescue killed scores of Palestinians, including civilians, according to Gaza health officials, puncturing Israel’s claims that the operation was a resounding success, at least internationally. —Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 9 June 2024

The simulation was accompanied by gunshot sounds, the student said. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 7 June 2024

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

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