accompaniment

noun ac·com·pa·ni·ment \ ə-ˈkəm-pə-nē-mənt , -ˈkəmp-nē- \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: accompaniment in a Sentence

Definition of accompaniment

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

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accompanimental

play \-ˌkəm-pə-nē-ˈmen-tᵊl, -ˌkəmp-nē-\ adjective

See accompaniment defined for English-language learners

See accompaniment defined for kids

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 of accompaniment from the Web

The Navy’s Bluejacket Choir performed and there was a community sing with accompaniment by the Denny Martin Band.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "July 5, 1976: San Diego celebrates U.S. Bicentennial," 5 July 2018
Film screening with live symphonic accompaniment Steven Allen Fox conducts works by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman.

— SFChronicle.com, "Classical music and dance listings," 5 July 2018
These drop-in sessions, held since 1971, incorporate meditation, interactive games, and accompaniment by drums and keyboard.

— nancy g. heller, Philly.com, "Group Motion, Philly's modern dance innovator, throws itself a 50th birthday bash for the ages," 27 June 2018
The Childs is a study in cool minimalism, arranged above and below a two-tiered set designed by Frank Gehry, with shimmering musical accompaniment by John Adams.

— marina harss, The New Yorker, "Summer Dance Preview," 11 May 2018
Visitors to Dante know to expect vermouth with a tantalizing accompaniment of Perrier and frozen grapes.

— jeff gordinier, Esquire, "Mocktails Make Going Dry-ish a Hell of a Lot More Enjoyable," 8 Jan. 2018
Plastic straws are everywhere—a natural accompaniment to your daily iced coffee and occasional cocktail.

— alice bell, Vogue, "11 Stylish, Sustainable Straws to Help You Cut Down on Single-Use Plastic," 13 July 2018
On Sunday, when the fact-finding mission began, that meant Mass in the San Juan Basilica, where the service is celebrated with the accompaniment of a 12-piece mariachi band.

— daniel blue tyx, Washington Post, "U.S. Catholic bishops to minister to children in border detention centers," 2 July 2018
Moser played it beautifully, with Francis and the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra providing a lovely accompaniment.

— christian hertzog, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Mainly Mozart Festival gives Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky first-class treatment," 17 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accompaniment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of accompaniment

accompany + -ment, on the model of French accompagnement, going back to Old French acompaignement "feudal power-sharing contract," derivative of acompaigner "to accompany"

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1697

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

accompaniment Synonyms

Synonyms

attendant, companion, concomitant, corollary;

complement, supplement;

counterpart, fellow, mate;

consequence, follow-up;

fixings, trimmings;

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

ACCOMPANIMENT Defined for English Language Learners

accompaniment

noun

Definition of accompaniment for English Language Learners

: music played to support a person who is singing or playing a musical instrument
: something that is added to another thing to make it better or more appealing; especially : something added to or served with food or a meal
: something that is done or that happens at the same time as something else