accompany

verb

ac·​com·​pa·​ny ə-ˈkəmp-nē How to pronounce accompany (audio)
-ˈkämp-;
-ˈkəm-pə-,
-ˈkäm- How to pronounce accompany (audio)
accompanied; accompanying

transitive verb

1
: to go with as an associate or companion
She accompanied me to the store.
2
: to perform an accompaniment to or for
He will be accompanying her on the piano.
3
a
: to cause to be in association
accompanied their advice with a warning
b
: to be in association with
the pictures that accompany the text

intransitive verb

music : to perform an accompaniment

Examples of accompany in a Sentence

She will accompany me to the store. Ten adults accompanied the class on their field trip. Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult to see this movie. A delicious sauce accompanied the grilled fish. He will be accompanying her on the piano.
Recent Examples on the Web As a transition season, the spring sees the frequent passage of fronts, which are accompanied by changes in air temperature and pressure. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Their headaches were mostly mild and most commonly accompanied by nasal congestion and sleeplessness. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024 Bank of Japan Chief Kazuo Ueda had repeatedly said the bank’s would review its negative rate and other easing measures if the 2 percent inflation target was met and was accompanied by wage increases. Yuri Kageyama, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 Ohio Senate candidates make final pitch to voters The candidates spent the past week barnstorming Ohio, at times accompanied by their biggest backers. USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 Her Golden Hour follow-up, 2021’s Star-Crossed, was a breakup record of dramatic proportions, accompanied by an ambitious 50-minute film that saw Musgraves as a lonely bride with diamanté eyebrows, strutting around the desert with drag queens. Liam Hess, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2024 Try provably fair games, make instant withdrawals, and claim up to a 5 BTC welcome bonus accompanied by 200 free spins. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 That could include a panel discussion accompanied by an open bar, catered lunches while someone presents on a topic not directly related to work, or bringing in guest speakers for conversations where employees can also mingle, Rowe says. Trey Williams, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Spring Glass Blowing Festival Step into the world of glass blowing artistry at the 13th annual Glass Blossom & Bloom Spring Glass Blowing Festival, featuring live demonstrations accompanied by playful and educational commentary. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accompany.' 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

Middle English accompanien "to make (someone) a companion or associate, be in company with, attend," borrowed from Anglo-French acumpainer, acompaigner "to join together, frequent, keep the company of," from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + cumpaing, cumpaignun companion entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of accompany was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near accompany

Cite this Entry

“Accompany.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accompany. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

accompany

verb
ac·​com·​pa·​ny ə-ˈkəmp-(ə-)nē How to pronounce accompany (audio)
accompanied; accompanying
1
: to go with or attend as a companion
2
: to perform an accompaniment to or for
3
: to occur at the same time as or along with
a thunderstorm accompanied by high winds
Etymology

Middle English accompanien "to accompany," from early French acompaigner (same meaning), from a- "to" and cumpaing "companion," from Latin companio "companion" — related to companion, company

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