partner

1 of 2

noun

part·​ner ˈpärt-nər How to pronounce partner (audio)
also
ˈpärd- How to pronounce partner (audio)
1
a
: one associated with another especially in an action : associate, colleague
our military partners throughout the world
b
: a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship : one member of a couple
Evan and his partner are going on a Caribbean cruise.
c
: either of two persons who dance together
d
: one of two or more persons who play together in a game against an opposing side
partners in card games
2
: a member of a partnership especially in a business
partners in a law firm
also : such membership
3
: one of the heavy timbers that strengthen a ship's deck to support a mast
usually used in plural
4
archaic : one that shares : partaker
partnerless
ˈpärt-nər-ləs How to pronounce partner (audio)
 also  ˈpärd-
adjective

partner

2 of 2

verb

partnered; partnering; partners

intransitive verb

: to join as a partner

transitive verb

1
: to join or associate with another as partner
2
: to provide with a partner

Examples of partner in a Sentence

Noun His partner, his wife of 20 years, was shocked to hear about his accident. They are partners in the real estate business. Singapore's most important trading partner is Indonesia. She was a senior partner at the Wall Street firm. We were each assigned a partner for the project. Verb The sporting goods store partnered with the newspaper to sponsor the road race. She partnered with her sister, and they opened a candy shop together.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
They were introduced with a moving speech by Elton John’s longtime songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. Thania Garcia, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 By book two, The Likeness, he’s been assigned a desk job for breach of duty; instead, his partner, Cassie Maddox, is sent undercover to learn who killed a young girl who bears an uncanny resemblance to her. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 In his prepared speech accepting the 2024 Academy Award for best international film, Glazer thanked his partners on The Zone of Interest, a haunting film about Auschwitz and the Holocaust, and then made a statement addressing both his work and a reference to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024 The film, directed by Matthew Heineman, follows Batiste and his partner, author-artist Suleika Jaouad, over a tumultuous year in their life as Batiste composes his first symphony and Jaouad undergoes treatment for lung cancer. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 The recently redrawn 41st Congressional District stretches from the suburban Inland Empire, where Calvert has long lived, to Palm Springs, where Rollins and his partner make their home. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 The overnight dates are here, as Joey comes closer to picking his forever tennis partner. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2024 Rooster has hosted two reality TV shows Building off of his business experience, Rooster has starred in two reality TV shows alongside his friend and business partner Gilliam. Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Michigan State signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Caesars Sportsbook that makes the company the official and exclusive sports betting partner of Michigan State athletics. Brian Murphy, Charlotte Observer, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
Scottish star Nina Nesbitt, who has enjoyed three Top 40 albums in the U.K. with indie label Cooking Vinyl, has partnered with her longtime manager Vicky Dowdall of VDM Music to launch a joint-venture label, Apple Tree Records, for Nesbitt’s future releases. Mark Sutherland, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 Decker has partnered with Waterloo Sparkling Water, and crafted three exclusive recipes to celebrate the launch, both inspired by and infused with three flavors. Kristina Behr, Parents, 12 Mar. 2024 He’s since partnered with Dirk Braun, owner of an art gallery in Malibu, to display the muddied and battered instrument there. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 This online casino has partnered with companies such as Yggdrasil, Microgaming, and NetEnt. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Kelce has partnered with his My Dead Friend Zoe producing partners, Ray Maiello and Mike Field, for the project, to be titled King Pleasure, according to ArtNews. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Por Osos has partnered with Mexcor Distribution with the plan to make the vodka accessible to their consumers. Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 The Star has partnered with the Columbia Daily Tribune for coverage of Missouri Tigers athletics. Calum McAndrew, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024 This is not the first time BMW has partnered with the celebrated South African artist. Nargess Banks, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'partner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English partener, alteration of parcener, from Anglo-French, coparcener — more at parcener

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of partner was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near partner

Cite this Entry

“Partner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partner. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

partner

noun
part·​ner
ˈpärt-nər
1
: one associated in action with another : colleague
2
: either of a couple who dance together
3
: one of two or more persons who play together in a game against an opposing side
4
: a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship : one member of a couple
5
: a member of a partnership

Legal Definition

partner

noun
part·​ner
: one of two or more persons associated as joint principals in carrying on a business for the purpose of enjoying a joint profit : a member of a partnership
specifically : a partner in a law firm
dormant partner
: silent partner in this entry
general partner
: a partner whose liability for partnership debts and obligations is unlimited compare limited partner in this entry
limited partner
: a partner in a venture who has no management authority and whose liability is limited to the amount of his or her investment compare general partner in this entry
partner in commendam \ -​in-​kə-​ˈmen-​dəm, -​kō-​ˈmen-​ˌdäm \
in the civil law of Louisiana : limited partner in this entry
silent partner
: a partner who takes no active part in conducting the partnership business but who receives a share of its profits and whose existence is often not made public

called also dormant partner

More from Merriam-Webster on partner

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