accompanied
B1Neutral. Common in formal, academic, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The past tense and past participle of 'accompany', meaning to go somewhere or do something with someone as a companion, or to be present or occur at the same time as something else.
It can also refer to providing musical support (e.g., a singer accompanied by a pianist) or, in a broader sense, to supplement or be an adjunct to something (e.g., an application accompanied by documents).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a subordinate, supporting, or simultaneous role. The subject (the thing/person accompanied) is the primary focus; the accompaniment is secondary or complementary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. The core meaning and usage are identical. 'Accompanied' is spelled the same.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally frequent and standard in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + be + accompanied + by + NP (agent/instrument)Subject + accompanied + NP (companion/object) + to/on/in + location/activityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A storm accompanied by thunder.”
- “His resignation was accompanied by a lengthy statement.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The proposal must be accompanied by a full financial breakdown.'
Academic
'The increase in temperature was accompanied by significant changes in species diversity.'
Everyday
'She was accompanied by her brother to the concert.'
Technical
'The main signal is accompanied by a low-frequency carrier wave.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He accompanied the visiting dignitaries to the theatre.
- The heavy rains were accompanied by severe gales.
American English
- She accompanied him on guitar during the performance.
- The product recall was accompanied by a public apology.
adjective
British English
- The patient was brought in as an accompanied minor.
- An accompanied visit to the site is required.
American English
- The tour is only for accompanied children.
- We offer an accompanied test drive for all new models.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children were accompanied by their teacher.
- He came to the party accompanied by his sister.
- The main course was accompanied by a fresh green salad.
- Her speech was accompanied by a slideshow of images.
- The economic boom was accompanied by rising social inequality.
- The soloist was expertly accompanied by a chamber orchestra.
- His profound sense of loss was accompanied by a paradoxical feeling of liberation.
- The treaty's signing was accompanied by a flurry of diplomatic activity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMPANY (friends/group) - when you are ACCOMPANIED, you have company with you.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOURNEY AS LIFE ('He was accompanied on his journey through life.'), SUPPORT AS A FOUNDATION ('The theory is accompanied by solid evidence.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'accomplished' (завершённый, accomplished).
- Russian 'сопровождаемый' often maps directly to 'accompanied'.
- Avoid using 'together with' as a verb substitute in past tense ('He together with me went' is incorrect).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She accompanied with her friend.' (Correct: 'She was accompanied by her friend' or 'She accompanied her friend.')
- Incorrect: 'The noise accompanied with the explosion.' (Correct: 'The noise accompanied the explosion' or 'The explosion was accompanied by noise.')
- Misspelling: 'accompanied' (double 'n' is a common error).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'accompanied' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for people, things, or abstract concepts (e.g., 'The decision was accompanied by controversy').
'Accompanied by' is the standard, correct preposition for indicating the companion or instrument. 'Accompanied with' is generally considered non-standard or archaic and should be avoided.
Yes, in certain contexts, especially formal or legal ones, it can function as an adjective meaning 'having an escort or companion' (e.g., 'accompanied baggage', 'accompanied minors').
Learners often forget the 'be' verb in the passive construction, saying 'He accompanied by his friend' instead of the correct 'He was accompanied by his friend'.