What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
connect
Example
I need to connect the printer to my computer. [connect: verb]
Example
I connected with my old friend on social media. [connected: past tense]
Example
The author connects the themes of love and loss throughout the novel. [connects: present tense]
associate
Example
I associate the smell of coffee with mornings. [associate: verb]
Example
She is an associate professor at the university. [associate: adjective]
Example
The company has many associates around the world. [associates: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Connect is more commonly used than associate in everyday language. Connect is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while associate is less common and has more specific usages.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between connect and associate?
Both connect and associate are relatively neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
