com·pan·ion
kəm-ˈpan-yən 
plural companions
often attributive
1
2
obsolete
: rascal
3
a
: one that is closely connected with something similar
The book is a companion to the television series with the same title.
b
: one employed to live with and serve another
We hired a companion for our elderly mother.
4
: a celestial body that appears close to another but that may or may not be associated with it in space
5
: a book, manual, etc., that provides information or advice about a particular subject
a companion to French New Wave cinema
—used in titlesThe Gardener's Companion
companioned; companioning; companions
: accompany
Anne sat long at her window that night companioned by a glad content.—
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery
: to keep company (see company entry 1 sense 1a)
fellows that he'd companioned with many years ago
1
: a hood covering at the top of a companionway
2
Did you know?
History of Companion
You may be a companion to someone without eating with that person, but etymologically you are sharing a meal with them. The word companion ultimately comes from the Latin com- (“with”) and panis (“bread, food”). The ingestible aspect of this word is reminiscent of symposium, which may be traced to the Greek word sympinein, meaning “to drink together.” But just as you may be a companion to someone without eating, you may also attend a symposium without drinking.
Synonyms
Examples of companion in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the reckless companions of one's youth
a dapper gentleman who's a frequent companion of widowed dowagers at society galas
a sketch that is a companion to the original drawing
the report and its companion recommendations for action
Verb
movie heroes are often companioned by wisecracking sidekicks
Recent Examples on the Web
PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Burke told the Netflix companion site that the treasure hunt for Blue Crown featured in season 4 will likely carry the show to its end.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for companion 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Support for 32-bit HDR images and improvements to Photoshop's Camera Raw companion app (new AI features and more file support) round out the changes.
—PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Burke told the Netflix companion site that the treasure hunt for Blue Crown featured in season 4 will likely carry the show to its end.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
Muti has companioned with many composers throughout his life, but maybe especially with Mozart and Verdi.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for companion
Dictionary Entries Near companion
Cite this Entry
“Companion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/companion. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
companion
1 of 2 noun
com·pan·ion
kəm-ˈpan-yən
1
: one that often accompanies another : comrade
2
a
: one of a pair of matching things
b
: a person employed to live with and serve another
3
: a publication that provides information
companion
2 of 2 nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
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