associate

1 of 3

verb

as·​so·​ci·​ate ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce associate (audio)
-sē-
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.

associate

2 of 3

noun

as·​so·​ciate ə-ˈsō-shē-ət How to pronounce associate (audio)
-sē-,
-ˌāt,
-shət
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
3
often capitalized : a degree conferred especially by a junior college
associate in arts
associateship
ə-ˈsō-shē-ət-ˌship How to pronounce associate (audio)
-sē-
-ˌāt-
-shət-
noun

associate

3 of 3

adjective

as·​so·​ciate ə-ˈsō-shē-ət How to pronounce associate (audio)
-sē-,
-ˌāt,
-shət
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
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of associate in a Sentence

Verb I no longer wish to be associated with people like him. She associates herself with some pretty strange people. Noun Her associates respected her for her hard work. She started as an associate at the law firm. Adjective 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 on the Web
Verb
In 2010, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors voted to issue a regulation implementing the CARD Act that stated that banks could only charge fees that recover the bank’s costs associated with late payment. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 But there’s no need to speculate any longer — not since this weekend, when Trump and Kennedy both associated themselves with policies that would bring vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio back to the United States. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Twenty-five electronic devices were seized for search warrants to make sure people are complying with rules associated with the devices, Robinson said. Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 5 Mar. 2024 By law, the fees are supposed to be tied to a credit card issuer's own costs associated with the late payment. Scott Horsley, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 Designed to address the broad spectrum of challenges associated with patient matching and data integrity, its suite of advanced technology solutions and services includes CuraMatch™ automated duplicate resolution, SmartIX™ Enterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI) and MPI Clean-up Services. Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Protecting utility customers from subsidizing the costs associated with producing and delivering the huge amount of electricity consumed by data centers has become an issue in multiple states, said Tom Content, executive director of the Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board. Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024 The salmon died while passing through a tunnel associated with the Iron Gate Dam, officials said. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 Shares in Japan have tracked gains in other markets driven by expectations for strong demand for technology associated with artificial intelligence. Zimo Zhong, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024
Noun
That applies to Dean’s savvy local TV producer partner Erin (Lex Scott Davis), as well as to Ted and his prospective merger associates. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 The 33-year-old pop-reggaeton artist exited the plane and hugged friends and associates on the tarmac, according to footage obtained by K-ABC Los Angeles. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Still, Ivan Zhdanov, who, like many of Mr. Navalny’s closest associates, is in exile outside Russia, encouraged people to come to the church, saying that the police had not been arresting mourners, as many had feared. Valerie Hopkins, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 In: Cam Newton Atlanta Rishikesh Rajagopalan Rishi Rajagopalan is a social media associate producer and content writer for CBS News. Rishikesh Rajagopalan, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024 Stein’s main competitor is a former state Supreme Court associate justice, Mike Morgan, who is Black. Nicholas Riccardi, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Alexandra Popova, a human rights activist and an associate of Orlov who attended the sentencing in Moscow, described the atmosphere inside the courtroom as moving. Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024 Denis Vida, a Ph.D. associate in meteor physics at Western University in Canada, said on X the asteroid measured about one meter end-to-end and probably dropped some meteorites on the ground. Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 The store associates replaced the pair and also gave her a sweatshirt, shirt and leggings. Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Caroline Rodier, associate director of the Transportation Center at UC Davis, authored a study on more than a dozen car-sharing programs across the U.S. since the early 2000s. Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 David Lamoureux will serve as music director, and Maxx Reed as associate director and choreographer. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 The approach was created by ASU associate professors Wei Kong and Yixin Shi and associate research scientist Lingchen Fu. The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 The associate producer of esports for ONE Esports, who created a documentary about esports fans. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Like his older sister, Jack is credited as an associate producer on the 2021 documentary Val. Alexandra Hurtado, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 Tiffany Pereira, an associate research scientist at the institute, said the lake’s size now can be beneficial to local flora and fauna. Ty O'Neil, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2024 Choreography and associate direction, Tony Thomas; set design, Tony Cisek; costumes, LeVonne Lindsay; lighting, William K. D’Eugenio; sound design, Lindsay Jones. Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 Kelsey Reiner has been named associate director of event sales; prior to joining the museum, Reiner worked as event sales manager at the Loveless Café/Loveless Events. Marc Schneider, Billboard, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'associate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of associate was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near associate

Cite this Entry

“Associate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/associate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

associate

1 of 2 verb
as·​so·​ci·​ate ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce associate (audio)
-sē-ˌāt
associated; associating
1
: to join or come together as partners, friends, or companions
2
: to connect in thought
associate hot chocolate with winter
3
: to combine or join with other parts : unite

associate

2 of 2 noun
as·​so·​ci·​ate
ə-ˈsō-shē-ət,
-sē-ət,
-shət,
-shē-ˌāt,
-sē-ˌāt
1
: a fellow worker : colleague
2
3
often capitalized : a degree given especially by a junior college
associate in arts
associate adjective
Etymology

Verb

Middle English associat "connected, related," derived from Latin associare "to unite," from ad- "to" and sociare "to join," from socius "companion" — related to sociable

Medical Definition

associate

1 of 3 verb
as·​so·​ci·​ate ə-ˈsō-s(h)ē-ˌāt How to pronounce associate (audio)
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 neuronsS. J. Jacob & C. A. Francone
2
: to engage in free association
the patient associated freely about his childhood

associate

2 of 3 adjective
: ranking immediately below the senior or chief position
associate clinical professor of medicine
associate medical examiner

associate

3 of 3 noun
as·​so·​ciate
like₂
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 nursingSkagit Valley College Catalog

Legal Definition

associate

noun
: a lawyer employed by a law firm compare partner

More from Merriam-Webster on associate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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