associate
uh-SOH-shee-uht
Associate (verb) means to connect one thing or idea with another in your mind. Example: “Most people associate the color red with danger.”
verb
1
To connect one thing or idea with another in your mind.
"Most people associate the color red with danger."
"Many children associate the sound of an ice cream van with summer holidays."
"I always associate the smell of baking bread with my grandmother's kitchen."
2
To spend time with someone, or join with them as a partner or ally.
"He was warned not to associate with known criminals."
"She did not want to associate with people who gossiped about her friends."
"Our club likes to associate with local schools on community projects."
noun
1
A person you work with, especially a colleague, partner, or business contact.
"She introduced him as a business associate, not a friend."
"My business associate will join the call to explain the new plan."
"He thanked every associate who had helped with the project."
adj
1
Joined with another person or group, often with a lower or partial level of status.
"He holds the title of associate professor."
"She joined the club as an associate member for a smaller fee."
"The university named him associate director of the new research centre."
How to use associate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo link things in your mind or spend time with someone, or (as a noun) a colleague or partner.
Common pairings
associate with
business associate
closely associated
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Word forms
- Plural
- associates
- Third person singular
- associates
- Past tense
- associated
Fill the gap
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Most people _____ the color red with danger.
Etymology
From Latin associatus, past participle of associare ("to join, unite"), from ad- plus socius ("companion, ally").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for associate
See all rhymes for associate →Frequently asked questions
What does “associate” mean?
The word “associate” means to connect one thing or idea with another in your mind. In plain terms, to link things in your mind or spend time with someone, or (as a noun) a colleague or partner.
How do you pronounce “associate”?
“Associate” is pronounced uh-SOH-shee-uht (/əˈsoʊʃi.ət/ in IPA).
How do you use “associate” in a sentence?
Here is “associate” used in a sentence: “Most people associate the color red with danger.”
What is another word for “associate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “associate” include adjunct, business partner, cohort, colaborer /colabourer, collaborator and colleague.
What is the opposite of “associate”?
The opposite of “associate” — its antonyms — is disassociate.
What part of speech is “associate”?
Depending on how it is used, “associate” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “associate” come from?
The word “associate” comes from Latin. From Latin associatus, past participle of associare ("to join, unite"), from ad- plus socius ("companion, ally").
Is “associate” a common word?
“Associate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between associate and connect?
Both link things together, but associate is chiefly mental, describing an idea or feeling that comes to mind alongside something else. Connect is broader and can be physical, such as connecting two pipes. You associate a smell with a memory, but you connect a cable to a socket.
What is an example of associating one thing with another?
People routinely associate the smell of pine with Christmas, a particular song with a past relationship, or a brand's logo with quality. In each case the mind automatically links the two, so encountering one calls the other to mind, even without any deliberate effort.
Does associate always mean a mental connection?
In the sense defined here, yes: it means linking ideas in your mind. But associate has other uses too. It can mean to spend time with people, as in "he associates with artists," and as a noun it names a colleague or business partner. Context decides the meaning.
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