Word
companion
Phoneticscom·pan·ion, stress on the second syllable
US/kəmˈpænjən/
UK/kəmpˈæniən/
Definitions
01a friend or partner
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person or animal that you spend time with or travel with.
n. a person or animal with whom one spends a significant amount of time or travels. Often implies a relationship based on mutual company rather than just shared tasks.
日本語:仲間※
“The old man and his dog were constant companions on his morning walks.”
“Finding a reliable travelling companion can be difficult, as long journeys often test even the strongest of friendships.”
02a matching object
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. one of a pair of things that are meant to be used together.
n. one of a pair of things intended to be used together or to complement each other.
“This book is a companion to the television series and explains the history of the show.”
“The volume was designed as a companion to his earlier work on Renaissance architecture, providing the necessary technical diagrams to support his theories.”
Synonyms
03astronomy
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a star or planet that travels through space with another one.
n. a celestial object, such as a star or planet, that is gravitationally bound to or associated with another.
“The bright star has a small companion that is hard to see without a telescope.”
“Observations of the primary star's wobble suggested the presence of a low-mass companion orbiting at a significant distance.”
Synonyms
04nautical
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. the stairs or the cover for the stairs on a ship.
n. the covering or framework over a hatchway on a ship's deck, or the ladder leading below.
“The sailor hurried down the companion to reach the cabin before the storm hit.”
“Water began to seep through the companion as the waves crashed over the quarterdeck, forcing the crew to secure the hatches.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “companion” in context.
Verb
01. prove a companion
“The travel guide proved a useful companion for navigating the city's hidden alleys.”
verb + noun
02. seek a companion
“After living alone for a decade, he decided to seek a companion to share his retirement.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. congenial companion
“She found him to be a most congenial companion during the long train journey across Europe.”
adj + noun
04. constant companion
“Throughout his long illness, his dog remained his constant companion.”
adj + noun
05. faithful companion
“The old compass had been his faithful companion on every expedition for twenty years.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. companion of choice
“For many solo hikers, a sturdy pair of boots is their companion of choice.”
noun + prep + noun
07. travelling companion
“We were looking for a travelling companion to help split the costs of the road trip.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“He told the conference: "We discovered what we think is a black hole merging with a massive companion star, shredding it into a disk that feeds the black hole.” “The film’s AI companions are invariably sycophantic, too.” “One explanation is that a large galaxy absorbed a smaller companion.” “Astronomers have been looking for a companion star since its existence was first predicted nearly a century ago.” Etymology
From Middle English companion, from Old French compaignon (“companion”) (modern French compagnon), from Late Latin compāniōn- (nominative singular compāniō, whence French copain), from com- + pānis (literally, with + bread), a word first attested in the Frankish Lex Salica as a calque of a Germanic word, probably Frankish galaibo, gahlaibō (“messmate”, literally “with-bread”), from Proto-Germanic *gahlaibô. Compare also Old High German galeipo (“messmate”) and Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌷𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌱𐌰 (gahlaiba, “messmate”); and, for the semantics, compare Old Armenian ընկեր (ənker, “friend”, literally “messmate”). More at co-, loaf. Displaced native Old English ġefēra (literally “fellow traveler”). Compare company and mate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domains
- 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
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/companion
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0