associate

verb as·so·ci·ate \ ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt , -sē- \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of associate

associated; associating

transitive verb

1 : to join as a partner, friend, or companion

They were closely associated with each other during the war.

2 : to join or connect together : combine

particles of gold associated with heavy minerals

3 : to bring together or into relationship in any of various intangible ways (as in memory or imagination)

She will always associate that place with her youth.

4 obsolete : to keep company with : attend

intransitive verb

1 : to come or be together as partners, friends, or companions

was accused of associating with known criminals

2 : to combine or join with other parts : unite

Protons, neutrons, and electrons associate together to form atoms.

See associate defined for English-language learners

See associate defined for kids

Examples of associate in a Sentence

I no longer wish to be associated with people like him.
She associates herself with some pretty strange people.

Recent Examples of associate from the Web

What if an obscure Giants pitcher came to be associated with that operation?

— bruce jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Warriors-Spurs: No relation to Houston, thank goodness," 13 Apr. 2018
The coaching staff is expected to remain intact beyond McKie’s promotion to associate head coach.

— marc narducci, Philly.com, "Temple makes it official: Aaron McKie to succeed Fran Dunphy in 2019-20," 11 Apr. 2018
So while guns don’t explain the whole story, killings by police officers do appear to be associated with gun laws and gun ownership rates.

— german lopez, Vox, "Police shootings are also part of America’s gun problem," 9 Apr. 2018
Fewer than 1 in 5 Americans are willing to closely associate with someone suffering from drug addiction as a friend, co-worker, or neighbor.

— matthew perrone, BostonGlobe.com, "Poll shows complex views on prescription drug addiction," 6 Apr. 2018
More sleep and more delegating, especially to associate head coach Larry Drew, who guided the Cavs to an 8-1 record in Lue's absence.

— joe vardon, cleveland.com, "Tyronn Lue dumps 'Shirley Temple,' gets life advice from Steve Kerr," 5 Apr. 2018
The company already re-wrote its terms of service, is in the middle of a media blitz with CEO Mark Zuckerberg to answer press questions, and is cutting out data partners the company no longer wants to associate with.

— kurt wagner, Recode, "Facebook will stop sharing as much of your personal data with people outside of Facebook," 4 Apr. 2018
The procedure involves getting patients to associate a taste with a powerful drug that has problematic side effects.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Training plus a placebo may make a drug more effective," 3 Apr. 2018
Some advertisers have left the show since Thursday to protest Ingraham's remarks, while other sponsors have steered clear of her program so as not to be associated with the controversy.

— stephen battaglio, latimes.com, "Fox News states support for Laura Ingraham despite advertiser fallout," 2 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of associate

Middle English associat associated, from Latin associatus, past participle of associare to unite, from ad- + sociare to join, from socius companion — more at social

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

associate Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of associate

join, combine, unite, connect, link, associate, relate mean to bring or come together into some manner of union. join implies a bringing into contact or conjunction of any degree of closeness.

- joined forces in an effort to win

combine implies some merging or mingling with corresponding loss of identity of each unit.

- combined jazz and rock to create a new music

unite implies somewhat greater loss of separate identity.

- the colonies united to form a republic

connect suggests a loose or external attachment with little or no loss of identity.

- a mutual defense treaty connected the two nations

link may imply strong connection or inseparability of elements still retaining identity.

- a name forever linked with liberty

associate stresses the mere fact of frequent occurrence or existence together in space or in logical relation.

- opera is popularly associated with high society

relate suggests the existence of a real or presumed logical connection.

- related what he observed to what he already knew

associate

noun as·so·ciate \ ə-ˈsō-shē-ət , -sē- , -ˌāt , -shət \

Definition of associate

1 : one associated with another: such as

a : partner, colleague

business associates

b : companion, comrade

a close associate during his college years

2 a : an entry-level member (as of a learned society, professional organization, or profession)

an associate of the Royal Academy

b : employee, worker

3 often capitalized : a degree conferred especially by a junior college

associate in arts

—

associateship

play \-ˌship\ noun

See associate defined for English-language learners

Examples of associate in a Sentence

Her associates respected her for her hard work.
She started as an associate at the law firm.

Recent Examples of associate from the Web

Patrick Jones, an engineering associate with the Harford County Soil Conservation District — the primary Envirothon sponsor — said about half the Earth is covered in range lands, from deserts to grasslands.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "North Harford High notches a repeat win in Harford Envirothon," 13 Apr. 2018
Before his appointment, Bash served as a special assistant to Trump and as an associate White House counsel, was an assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General from 2012 to 2017, and argued 10 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

— guillermo contreras, San Antonio Express-News, "West Texas’ new chief law enforcement officer outlines priorities," 12 Apr. 2018
In one revealing incident, Holmes and an associate spent two hours pricking their fingers in a hotel before a big meeting with Novartis in a futile effort to get the buggy technology to work.

— rebecca robbins, STAT, "‘Therabros’ and ‘disappeared’ staffers: the 8 juiciest things we learned from John Carreyrou’s new Theranos book," 12 Apr. 2018
Police declined to name the gang Flores had ties to Tuesday but said in February that Flores was in the company of a runaway juvenile, whom police described in court documents as an associate of MS-13.

— justin jouvenal, Washington Post, "Missing Fairfax County teen with ties to gang members might be in danger, police say," 3 Apr. 2018
COMMUNICATION Mueller Communications promoted Elizabeth Hummitzsch to vice president and Jennifer Morton to associate level III and hired Amerin Idell as an associate.

— milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New hires, promotions at Wisconsin companies," 29 Mar. 2018
As a junior associate at a Washington law firm in 1991, she was offered some career advice from one of its prestigious partners, Warren Christopher.

— john myers, latimes.com, "Nancy McFadden, a key architect of Gov. Jerry Brown's political renaissance, loses her battle with cancer," 23 Mar. 2018
The singer first came on the scene as an associate of Missy Elliott.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Brandy, Ashanti, Avant, Lil Mo Coming To Foxwoods As Part Of R&B Remix Tour," 17 Mar. 2018
Documents obtained by Yahoo Sports that were published last month listed Smith receiving $73,500 in a loan from ASM Sports, the agency led by former NBA agent Andy Miller with Christian Dawkins as an associate.

— a.j. perez, USA TODAY, "FBI's North Carolina State basketball subpoena details revealed," 16 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of associate

see ¹associate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

associate Synonyms

Synonyms

cohort, companion, compatriot, comrade, crony, fellow, hobnobber, mate, running mate;

accomplice, affiliate, ally, collaborator, confederate, half, partner;

buddy, chum, confidant, familiar, friend, hearty, intimate, pal;

countryman;

classmate, housemate, messmate, playfellow, playmate, roommate (also roomie), schoolmate, shipmate, teammate;

attendant, escort;

hanger-on, leech, parasite;

associate

adjective as·so·ciate \ same as ²associate \

Definition of associate

1 : closely connected (as in function or office) with another : sharing in responsibility or authority

associate judges

2 : having secondary or subordinate status

associate membership in a society

3 : closely related especially in the mind

faith and its associate virtues

See associate defined for English-language learners

Examples of associate in a Sentence

He's an associate member of the club but he hopes to become a full member soon.
She was promoted from assistant editor to associate editor and may soon be promoted to senior editor.

Recent Examples of associate from the Web

Escobedo served as associate head coach for the Hoosiers last season.

— dave melton, Post-Tribune, "Former NCAA champion Angel Escobedo comes full circle, takes over as Indiana wrestling coach," 9 Apr. 2018
His associate head coach at Xavier, Travis Steele, replaced him as head coach.

— jake lourim, The Courier-Journal, "University of Louisville announces full men's basketball coaching staff," 7 Apr. 2018
Cooks posed for a picture associate head coach Mike Riley and director of player development James Rodgers, and even went through some post-practice work with redshirt freshman wide Champ Flemings.

— danny moran, OregonLive.com, "New Los Angeles Rams receiver Brandin Cooks stops by Oregon State Beavers spring football practice," 7 Apr. 2018
Benjamin has also served as the first black woman to head the State of Alabama Medical Association and was associate dean for rural health at the University of South Alabama's College of Medicine.

— Newsweek, "Analysis," 14 Mar. 2018
In 2013, she was promoted to the position of associate producer.

— sam dangremond, Town & Country, "8 Things to Know About Donald Trump's Daughters-in-Law," 14 Mar. 2018
Pruitt named Konkus, a Republican political consultant, to serve as the EPA’s deputy associate administrator for public affairs.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Scott Pruitt's EPA Aide Has a Side Hustle in the Private Sector," 6 Mar. 2018
Then, in 1999, Manda became associate executive producer on Flex and DJ Big Kap's gold album, The Tunnel, named after the iconic club where Flex and Kap broke rap records.

— gail mitchell, Billboard, "Interscope EVP Joie Manda Makes a Case for Major Labels & Why It's the 'Strongest Time Ever for Female Rap'," 16 Feb. 2018
That kind of balance is what election expert Daniel Tokaji, associate dean for faculty at Ohio State University's law school, said should be part of redistricting reform - a system where representatives can be held unaccountable by the voters.

— rich exner, cleveland.com, "Find Cuyahoga County home sales, other property transfers for January," 5 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of associate

see ¹associate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

ASSOCIATE Defined for English Language Learners

associate

verb

Definition of associate for English Language Learners

: to think of one person or thing when you think of another person or thing
: to be together with another person or group as friends, partners, etc.

associate

adjective

Definition of associate for English Language Learners

: having a rank or position that is below the highest level in a group, organization, etc.

associate

noun

Definition of associate for English Language Learners

: a person who you work with or spend time with
: a member of a group or organization who is at a level that is below the highest level

ASSOCIATE Defined for Kids

associate

verb as·so·ci·ate \ ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt \

Definition of associate for Students

associated; associating

1 : to join or come together as partners, friends, or companions

He associates with some interesting people.

2 : to connect in thought

I associate hot chocolate with winter.

associate

adjective as·so·ciate \ ə-ˈsō-shē-ət , -shət \

Definition of associate for Students

: having a rank or position that is below the highest level

an associate member of the club

associate

noun as·so·ciate \ ə-ˈsō-shē-ət , -shət \

Definition of associate for Students

1 : a person who you work with or spend time with

business associates

Medical Dictionary

associate

verb as·so·ci·ate \ ə-ˈsō-s(h)ē-ˌāt \

medical Definition of associate

associated; associating

transitive verb

1 : to join or connect (things) together

2 : to bring together in a relationship

infectious disease associated with a rise in body temperature

intransitive verb

1 : to combine or join with other parts

fibrils of the sensory neurons associate with motor neurons
—S. J. Jacob & C. A. Francone

2 : to engage in free association

the patient associated freely about his childhood

associate

adjective as·so·ciate \ ə-ˈsō-s(h)ē-ət, -shət, -s(h)ē-ˌāt \

medical Definition of associate

: ranking immediately below the senior or chief position

associate clinical professor of medicine

associate medical examiner

associate

noun as·so·ciate \ like₂ \

medical Definition of associate

1 : a research worker or teacher affiliated with a professional organization or institution and ranking below a professor or full member

a research associate in pathology

2 often capitalized : a degree conferred especially by a junior college

an Associate in Technical Arts degree in nursing
—Skagit Valley College Catalog

Law Dictionary

associate

noun as·so·ciate \ ə-ˈsō-shē-ət, -sē-ət, -shət \

legal Definition of associate

: a lawyer employed by a law firm — compare partner

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associate

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associateship

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associate

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ASSOCIATE Defined for English Language Learners

associate

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associate

Definition of associate for English Language Learners

associate

Definition of associate for English Language Learners

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associate

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associate

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associate

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Medical Dictionary

associate

medical Definition of associate

associate

medical Definition of associate

associate

medical Definition of associate

Law Dictionary

associate

legal Definition of associate

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