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associate
/əˈsoʊsieɪt/
connect or link with
She associates happiness with sunny days.
She links happiness with sunny days.
general
To connect or link in the mind or imagination.
I associate this song with my childhood.
This song reminds me of my childhood.
Often used to describe mental connections or impressions.
general
To work or be connected with someone in a professional or social capacity.
She associates with influential people in her field.
She works with or is connected to influential people.
Can imply a formal or informal relationship.
general
A person connected with another in a professional or social capacity.
He is a close associate of the CEO.
He is a close professional or social connection of the CEO.
Often used in business or organizational contexts.
Collocations
associate withlink or connect in the mindassociate closely withhave a strong connection withassociate oneself withvoluntarily connect oneself with
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Verb vs. Noun Usage
As a verb, 'associate' often describes mental connections, while as a noun, it refers to a person connected in a professional or social context.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'associate' can vary significantly based on context, so pay attention to how it is used in a sentence.
Word Origin
From Latin 'associāre', meaning 'to join together', from 'ad-' (to) + 'socius' (companion).
Usage Notes
Can be used both as a verb and a noun. As a verb, it often implies a mental or professional connection. As a noun, it refers to a person connected in a professional or social context.
Word Breakdown
asso-
together
prefix-ciate
join or unite
suffixEnglish Dictionary