accompanied; accompanying
Synonyms of accompany

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What resonated most with me was the return of large, versatile bags designed to accompany women throughout the day. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Kim, accompanied by his daughter known as Ju Ae and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, attended the opening of the Defense Revolution Museum on Sunday, KCNA said. — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 In 1802, Clementi, a prominent music publisher and manufacturer of pianofortes, took a trip to Moscow, accompanied by Field. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026 This requires, though, that the majority of stocks are not outright declining and that the divergences aren't accompanied by signs of acute macro stress and tighter financial conditions. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accompany

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of accompany was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Accompany.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accompany. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

accompany

verb
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

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