# companies

/ˈkəmpəˌniz/ (US) · /kˈʌmpənɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/companies
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. businesses

noun · CEFR A2

organisations that sell goods or services to make money.

For teachers: commercial businesses or enterprises. Countable plural form.

- Many tech companies have offices in this part of the city.
- Multinational companies often face complex regulatory challenges when expanding their operations into emerging markets.

Usage: The plural form of 'company' requires changing the 'y' to 'ies'.

### 2. groups of people

noun · CEFR B2

groups of people who are together, such as in a play or the army.

For teachers: multiple groups of individuals, specifically referring to theatrical troupes or military units. Countable plural form.

- The two dance companies performed together for the first time.
- During the military exercise, several infantry companies coordinated their movements to secure the perimeter.

Usage: Often used in specific professional contexts like the arts or the military.

### 3. to accompany

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to go somewhere with someone or spend time with them.

For teachers: to accompany or associate with someone. Third-person singular present indicative.

- He companies with those who share his love for old books.
- In the classic novel, the protagonist often companies with travelers of questionable character during his journey across the continent.

Teaching tip: This verb form is extremely rare in modern English; students will almost always encounter 'companies' as a plural noun.

## Examples

- Many tech companies have offices in this city.
- The government is offering tax breaks to small companies that hire local workers.
- Global companies must navigate a complex web of international regulations and cultural differences to maintain their market share across diverse regions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.