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

accompanimental

ə-ˌkəm-pə-nē-ˈmen-tᵊl 

-ˌkəmp-nē-

adjective

Synonyms of accompaniment

• complement
• companion
• attendant
• concomitant
• incident
• corollary
• obbligato
• consequence
• adjunct

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

But hoove-adjacent fashions aren’t a contemporary invention in the least, instead originating in 15th-century Japan in the form of split-toe socks, which were a common accompaniment to kimonos. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026

Its home will be the Ten Hotel Gurnee, where Arden envisions regular performances of a variety of orchestra music, from pops to classical, played with dinner accompaniment. —Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026

Built in 1929, the theater brings in national acts like Dave Mason, Béla Fleck, and Bryan Adams, and screens throwback movies with live Wurlitzer organ accompaniment in a space featuring castle balconies and a starlit ceiling. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026

As always in recent years, the competition was emceed by KSTP-TV anchor Matt Belanger with live piano accompaniment from Kates musical director Dave Swanson. —Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing accompaniment

• to the accompaniment of

Kids 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