accompany

/əˈkʌmp(ə)ni/

/əˈkʌmpəni/

Other forms: accompanied; accompanying; accompanies

The verb accompany means to keep someone company, or to be their companion on a trip or journey. In a musical sense, accompany means to play background music for the lead singer or soloist.

If you want your friend to keep you company on your way to the store, you could ask her to accompany you on the walk. Or, if you want your friend to play piano while you sing a song, you could ask her to accompany you on piano. Just don’t ask her to do both at the same time or your friend may not want to accompany you anywhere any longer.

Definitions of accompany

1. verb

   go or travel along with
   “The nurse accompanied the old lady everywhere”

   types:

   walk

   accompany or escort

   consort, run

   keep company

   escort

   accompany as an escort

   escort, see, usher

   accompany or escort

   tag along

   go along with, often uninvited

   trot

   cause to trot

   squire

   attend upon as a squire; serve as a squire

   safeguard

   escort safely

   convoy

   escort in transit

   chaperon, chaperone

   accompany as a chaperone

   march

   force to march

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
2. verb

   be a companion to somebody
   synonyms: companion, company, keep company

   type of:

   affiliate, associate, assort, consort

   keep company with; hang out with
3. verb

   perform an accompaniment to
   synonyms: follow, play along

   type of:

   play

   play on an instrument
4. verb

   be present or associated with an event or entity
   “this kind of vein accompanies certain arteries”

   synonyms: attach to, come with, go with

   types:

   co-occur with, collocate with, construe with, cooccur with, go with

   go or occur together

   attend

   accompany as a circumstance or follow as a result

   rule

   have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac