companionship
gb/kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/ us/kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/
B2
English
~ 6900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
state
1
friendly company that eases loneliness
The good feeling of having another person or animal with you so you are not alone.
Usage pattern:
companionship with [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "a companionship" as if it were countable (e.g., *"I want a companionship"). In modern English, "companionship" is almost always uncountable; say "I want companionship" or "I want some companionship." Another confusion is with "company": "company" can mean both people with you and a business, but "companionship" only refers to the social/emotional sense of having someone with you.
Synonyms
company (Very common and general; can sound slightly less emotional than "companionship".)
|
friendship (Focuses more on the relationship itself, not just on being together and feeling less lonely.)
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fellowship (More formal or literary; often suggests shared interests or activities in a group.)
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togetherness (Emphasizes the warm feeling of being close to others rather than just physical presence.)
Antonyms
loneliness (Describes the painful feeling of being alone without close social contact, which companionship helps to ease.)
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isolation (Suggests being cut off from other people, often physically or socially, the opposite of shared presence.)
Collocations
seek companionship
|enjoy companionship
|find companionship
|offer companionship
|human companionship
|companionship of pets
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After his wife died, he got a dog for companionship.
- Many older people go to community centers in search of companionship.
- Traveling with a friend adds companionship and makes the journey more enjoyable.
- The online group provided her with companionship during the long months of recovery.
- Children need companionship as well as guidance from their parents.
Learner examples
- She lives alone and wants more companionship.
- He enjoys the companionship of his coworkers at lunch.
- My grandmother keeps a cat for companionship.
- Good companionship can make a hard day feel easier.
- People join clubs to find companionship and make friends.
Grammar
Dictionary form
companionship
IPA
GB/kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/
US/kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/
Syllables & stress
com - pan - ion - ship (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pan)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: companionship
- Plural: companionship
Word family
Related words
accompaniment
noun B2
companionable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unaccompanied
adjective
Advanced or less common
companionably
adverb
Expressions
enjoy companionship
1/ɪnd͡ʒˈɔɪ kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
take pleasure in being together
To feel happy because you are with another person or animal.
Examples
- He enjoys the companionship of his grandchildren on weekends.
- Introverts may prefer quiet, but many still enjoy companionship in small groups.
find companionship
1/fˈaɪnd kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
get company that eases loneliness
To get or have someone or something with you so you do not feel lonely.
Examples
- She hoped to find companionship at the language exchange meeting.
- Many people find companionship in their pets.
for companionship
1/fɚ kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
as a way to have company
Used to say that the reason you get or have someone or something is so you are not alone.
Examples
- They adopted a second dog for companionship for their old labrador.
- He started sharing an apartment with a friend for companionship as well as to save money.
human companionship
1/hjˈumən kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
company given by other people
The feeling of being with other people, not animals or machines.
Examples
- Even with advanced robots, many elderly people still long for human companionship.
- Prisoners in solitary confinement are denied human companionship for long periods.
seek companionship
1/sˈik kəmpˈænjənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
look for company from others
To try to find people or animals to be with so you are not alone.
Examples
- He joined the hiking club to seek companionship after his divorce.
- Many people seek companionship online when they move to a new city.