accompaniment
noun
ac·com·pa·ni·ment
ə-ˈkəm-pə-nē-mənt 
-ˈkəmp-nē-
1
music
: an instrumental or vocal part designed to support or complement a melody
sang the song with a piano accompaniment
2
a
: an addition (such as an ornament) intended to give completeness or symmetry to something : complement
a tie that's a nice accompaniment to his new suit
b
: an accompanying situation or occurrence : concomitant
studied Italian as an accompaniment to her art history class
Examples of accompaniment in a Sentence
She sings without musical accompaniment.
A nice tie was a fine accompaniment to his new suit.
This dish can be served as an accompaniment to most meat main dishes.
This wine is a good accompaniment for spicy foods.
She studied Italian as an accompaniment to her classes in art history.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Grand Lake originally operated as a venue for vaudeville entertainment and silent-film showings on a single screen, with musical accompaniment provided by a large Wurlitzer Hope Jones Unified Orchestral Organ.
—
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
With roses snaked around the mic stands to match the roses on her cowboy hat, Kirke strummed acoustic guitar with minimal accompaniment — pedal steel guitar, bass and drums.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The final cut for the film adds minimal orchestral accompaniment towards the end of the song, keeping the spotlight on Chaney’s voice.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
His insistence on accompaniment—on staying, listening, and remaining accountable over time—feels essential to this moment, for citizens of our country and our world, as well as for family members and friends.
—Chelsea Clinton, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accompaniment
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Martha Ross, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
With roses snaked around the mic stands to match the roses on her cowboy hat, Kirke strummed acoustic guitar with minimal accompaniment — pedal steel guitar, bass and drums.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The final cut for the film adds minimal orchestral accompaniment towards the end of the song, keeping the spotlight on Chaney’s voice.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
His insistence on accompaniment—on staying, listening, and remaining accountable over time—feels essential to this moment, for citizens of our country and our world, as well as for family members and friends.
—Chelsea Clinton, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accompaniment
Cite this Entry
“Accompaniment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accompaniment. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
accompaniment
noun
ac·com·pa·ni·ment
ə-ˈkəmp-(ə-)nē-mənt
1
: music played along with a solo part to enrich it
2
: an accompanying object, situation, or event
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