Associate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt/ (verb) /ə-ˈsō-shē-ət/ (noun) as·so·ci·ate

Meaning & Definition of Associate

Associate (verb)

  1. to join as a partner, friend, or companion
  2. to join or connect together, combine
  3. to bring together or into relationship in any of various intangible ways (as in memory or imagination)

Associate (noun)

  1. one associated with another
  2. partner, colleague
  3. companion, comrade

Associate (adjective)

  1. closely connected (as in function or office) with another, sharing in responsibility or authority
  2. having secondary or subordinate status
  3. closely related especially in the mind

Associate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come or be together as friends

    "a socially ambitious couple who joined the country club in order to associate with the right sort of people"

    similar: chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around or out), hobnob, hook up, mess around, pal (around), run, sort, travel, be friends with, fall in with, keep company (with), rub elbows (with), take up with
    related: affiliate, ally, attach, band, bond, club, collaborate, collude, confederate, conjoin, connect, cooperate, couple, gang, get along, get on, group, interrelate, join, knot, league, link, mingle, mix, rally, relate, side, socialize, team, tie, wed, befriend, friend
    near: avoid, cold-shoulder, shun, snub, alienate, estrange, break up, disband, disperse, split (up), disjoin, dissociate, disunite, divorce, sever, split, sunder

  2. to think of (something) in combination

    "she still associates Memorial Day with her long-ago fiancé, who died in Vietnam"

    similar: connect, correlate, identify, link, relate
    related: compare, equate, liken, group, join, lump (together), tie (together)
    near: contrast, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, separate, set off

  3. to come together to form a single unit

    "the elements hydrogen and oxygen associate to form molecules of water"

    similar: coalesce, combine, conjoin, conjugate, connect, couple, fuse, interfuse, join, link (up), marry, unify, unite
    related: mate, yoke, ally, confederate, league, chain, compound, hitch, hook, splice, assemble, cluster, congregate, constellate, convene, gather, meet, recombine, reconnect, rejoin, reunify, reunite
    opposite: break up, dissever, part, section, separate, sever, split, sunder, unlink
    near: detach, disaffiliate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, fractionate, isolate, resolve, uncouple, unyoke, disband, disperse, scatter

  4. to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members

    "nations deciding to associate in order to remove trade barriers"

    similar: ally, band (together), club, coalesce, cohere, confederate, conjoin, cooperate, federate, league, unite, close ranks, pull together
    related: cabal, collaborate, gang up, hang together, team (up), incorporate, organize, unionize, affiliate, amalgamate, combine, conglomerate, consolidate, converge, group, join, merge, knot, link, tie, wed
    opposite: break up, disband
    near: detach, disengage, dissolve, disunite, divorce, part, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder, alienate, estrange, fall out

  5. to take part in social activities

    "you should try to associate with people your own age"

    similar: fraternize, go out, hobnob, mingle, mix, socialize, step out, rub elbows
    related: carouse, party, revel, circulate
    near: avoid, eschew, shun, slight, snub

Associate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person frequently seen in the company of another

    "a number of his associates were members of organized crime, so he was a person of interest to the FBI"

    similar: cohort, companion, compatriot, compeer, comrade, crony, fellow, hobnobber, mate, running mate
    related: colleague, coworker, equal, peer, workmate, accomplice, affiliate, ally, collaborator, confederate, half, partner, buddy, chum, confidant, familiar, friend, hearty, intimate, pal, countryman, classmate, housemate, messmate, playfellow, playmate, roommate, schoolmate, shipmate, teammate, attendant, escort, hanger-on, leech, parasite

  2. a fellow worker

    "my associates at the office"

    similar: colleague, confrere, coworker
    related: equal, fellow, peer, accomplice, ally, cohort, collaborator, confederate, copartner, half, partner, buddy, chum, companion, comrade, crony, pal, compatriot, countryman

Associate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in secondary, auxiliary

    similar: auxiliary, secondary, subsidiary, jerkwater, one-horse, second-class, second-rate, two-bit, minute, petty, little, mean, small, inferior, junior, less, lesser, lower, minor, smaller, subordinate
    opposite: greater, higher, major, more, primary, prime, senior, superior, superordinate, choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Associate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Associate:

chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around or out), hobnob, hook up, mess around, pal (around), run, sort, travel, connect, correlate, identify, link, relate, coalesce, combine, conjoin, conjugate, couple, fuse, interfuse, join, link (up), marry, unify, unite, ally, band (together), club, cohere, confederate, cooperate, federate, league, go out, mingle

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Associate

Words with the opposite meaning of Associate:

break up, dissever, part, section, separate, sever, split, sunder, unlink, disband, greater, higher, major, more, primary, prime, senior, superior, superordinate, choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate

Related Words for Associate

affiliate, attach, band, bond, collaborate, collude, gang, get along, get on, group, interrelate, knot, rally, side, team, tie, wed, befriend, friend, compare, equate, liken, lump (together), tie (together), yoke, chain, compound, hitch, hook, splice

Near Antonyms of Associate

avoid, cold-shoulder, shun, snub, alienate, estrange, disperse, split (up), disjoin, dissociate, disunite, divorce, contrast, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, set off, detach, disaffiliate, disconnect, disjoint, divide, fractionate, isolate, resolve, uncouple, unyoke, scatter, disengage, dissolve

Word Forms of Associate

Inflections: associated, associating

Derived words: associateship (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Associate

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

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Associate

Words & Phrases Containing Associate

associate professor, associate degree, paired-associate learning

Frequently Asked Questions about Associate

What does "Associate" mean?

"Associate" means to join as a partner, friend, or companion. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to join as a partner, friend, or companion. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Associate"?

Other words for "Associate" include chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around or out), hobnob and hook up. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Associate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Associate"?

There are 172 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Associate". Common alternatives include chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around or out), hobnob, hook up, mess around and pal (around).

What is the opposite of "Associate"?

Antonyms of "Associate" include break up, dissever, part, section, separate, sever, split and sunder. Near antonyms include avoid, cold-shoulder, shun and snub.

How do you use "Associate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Associate" in a sentence: "a socially ambitious couple who joined the country club in order to associate with the right sort of people"; "she still associates Memorial Day with her long-ago fiancé, who died in Vietnam"; "the elements hydrogen and oxygen associate to form molecules of water".

Is "Associate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Associate" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Associate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Associate" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Associate"?

"Associate" is pronounced /ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt/ as a verb and /ə-ˈsō-shē-ət/ as a noun and divided into syllables as as·so·ci·ate.