accompaniment

noun

ac·​com·​pa·​ni·​ment ə-ˈkəm-pə-nē-mənt How to pronounce accompaniment (audio)
-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 adjective

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
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.
The song, which begins with the soft sound of an acoustic guitar, transforms into an orchestral accompaniment with string arrangements by Roberto Verástegui. Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2025 Many of us who are raised on or reformed by incomparable low-and-slow Southern pork barbecue appreciate cabbage slaw as a classic accompaniment, whether spooned onto our plate (AKA our tray) or inside a sandwich bun. Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025 Bright Eyes are back with a new EP that serves as a soft accompaniment to last year’s Five Dice, All Threes. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025 Putting the Edge in a vertical orientation alongside one side of your monitor could be the best solution for that kind of message stream; Corsair also plans a monitor mount for the Xeneon Edge to enable that kind of eye-level vertical accompaniment. Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accompaniment

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of accompaniment was in 1697

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Accompaniment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accompaniment. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

accompaniment

noun
ac·​com·​pa·​ni·​ment ə-ˈkəmp-(ə-)nē-mənt How to pronounce accompaniment (audio)
1
: music played along with a solo part to enrich it
2
: an accompanying object, situation, or event

More from Merriam-Webster on accompaniment

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