associate

To think of two people or things as connected with each other.

• I associate summer with the beach.
• She associated that smell with her grandmother's kitchen.
• What do you associate with this picture?

How to use it: associate someone/something with someone/something (I associate that song with my childhood.); be associated with something (The brand is associated with quality.)

Similar words: connect, link

Opposites: dissociate

Common phrases: associate something with, associate someone with

To spend time with someone socially.

• He associates with some of my friends.
• Her parents worried about the people she associated with.
• I avoid associating with anyone who treats others badly.

How to use it: associate with someone (She prefers to associate with people who share her interests.)

Similar words: mix, socialize, keep company

Common phrases: associate with someone, associate with friends

To join another person or group, or publicly connect yourself with an activity or cause.

• They associated to form a new business.
• She associated herself with the environmental movement.
• He refused to associate his name with the project.

How to use it: associate oneself with someone/something (She associated herself with the campaign for better housing.); associate someone's name with something (He associated his name with several local charities.)

Similar words: join, ally, align

Opposites: dissociate

Common phrases: associate oneself with, associate with someone, associate someone's name

To join things together or combine them into a group.

• These molecules associate with one another.
• The treatment associated the particles into larger groups.
• Heat helps the smaller units associate.

How to use it: associate A with B (The process associates metal particles with other substances.)

Similar words: combine, join, unite

Opposites: separate

Common phrases: associate with something, associate particles

Working alongside a more senior person, with a lower rank or less authority.

• She is an associate editor.
• He became an associate professor last year.
• The associate director reports to the director.

Common phrases: associate professor, associate editor, associate director, associate producer

Having some, but not all, of the rights of a full member.

• He is an associate member of the club.
• Associate membership costs less than full membership.
• Associate members cannot vote in this election.

Opposites: full

Common phrases: associate member, associate membership, associate status

Someone you work with or do business with.

• I met a business associate for lunch.
• His associates helped him start the company.
• She introduced me to an associate who handles sales.

How to use it: an associate of someone (She is a business associate of my father.)

Similar words: colleague, business partner, coworker

Common phrases: business associate, close associate, former associate, trusted associate

A member or professional who has a lower rank or fewer rights than a full or senior one.

• She joined the firm as an associate.
• The associates work under the senior partners.
• He was promoted from associate to partner.

How to use it: an associate at something (He works as an associate at a law firm.)

Common phrases: junior associate, senior associate, firm associate