Cool MateAccompany vs Join
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accompany
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Join
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Join
| Accompany | Join | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈkʌmpəni/","/əˈkʌmpəniz/","/əˈkʌmpənid/","/əˈkʌmpəniɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈkʌmpəni/","/əˈkʌmpəniz/","/əˈkʌmpənid/","/əˈkʌmpəniɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/dʒɔɪn/","/dʒɔɪnz/","/dʒɔɪnd/","/ˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dʒɔɪn/","/dʒɔɪnz/","/dʒɔɪnd/","/ˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to go or be with someone | to come together with others |
| Example | I will accompany you to the concert this weekend. | I decided to join a yoga class to improve my flexibility. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | accompany someone, accompany on a journey, accompany a song, accompany with, accompanying documents | formally, officially, voluntarily, want to, wish to, flock to, an invitation to join something, together, eagerly, gladly, wish to, invite somebody to, be allowed to, for, in, with, come and join somebody, an invitation to join somebody/something |
| Antonyms | leave, abandon, depart | leave, split, detach |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'accomplice' which means someone who helps in a crime., Using 'accompanied' without an object when it needs one., Saying 'accompany with' instead of just 'accompany'. | 'Join' is often confused with 'meet' — they have different meanings., Learners forget to use 'join' with an object, saying 'I join' instead of 'I join the club.', Mixing up 'join' with 'attend' — attending can imply being present without being an active participant. |
| Usage notes | Used when one person goes along with another. Common in formal contexts, such as in professional settings or when talking about music. Not typically used in casual conversations about friends. | Use 'join' when indicating participation in an activity or becoming part of a group. It's neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in overly formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Accompany vs Join
What's the difference between Accompany and Join?
Accompany: to go or be with someone Join: to come together with others
Which is more common: Accompany and Join?
Join is the most common in everyday English.
Are Accompany and Join the same CEFR level?
Accompany: B2, Join: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Accompany and Join interchangeably?
Not always. Accompany and Join are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.