Word
accompaniment
Phoneticsac·com·pa·ni·ment
US/əˈkəmpnimənt/
UK/ɐkˈʌmpɐnˌɪmənt/
Definitions
01music
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Music
n. a musical part that supports a main singer or instrument.
n. a musical part, typically instrumental, that provides rhythmic or harmonic support for a soloist or melody.
“The singer performed a beautiful folk song with a simple piano accompaniment.”
“The violinist's intricate solo was bolstered by a subtle orchestral accompaniment that never overpowered the delicate phrasing of the lead instrument.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'to'.
Antonyms
02food or addition
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. something that is served with or added to a main thing to complete it.
n. something that attends as a circumstance or is added to enhance the principal subject, often in a culinary or aesthetic context.
“A sharp sauce is a perfect accompaniment to this rich chocolate cake.”
“The high inflation rate was an unfortunate accompaniment to the country's rapid industrial growth during that decade.”
Usage
Commonly takes the preposition 'to' when describing a pairing.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Immigrants probably first brought yogurt to the US in the nineteenth century, keeping cultures alive, making batches in home kitchens, and typically eating it as an unsweetened accompaniment to savory food.” “Music is also used to distinguish between her notions of straight and queer sex as she brings wild physicality first to a bluntly staccato accompaniment and then to multitudinous free jazz.” Etymology
From French accompagnement; equivalent to accompany + -ment. First attested in 1744.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/accompaniment