mate 1 of 2

noun

Definition of matenext
1
as in half
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities have you seen the mate to this glove anywhere?

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in associate
a person frequently seen in the company of another that lout and his mates are known troublemakers in the neighborhood

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3
as in assistant
chiefly British a person who helps a more skilled person a plumber and his mate showed up to fix the sink in our London hotel room

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4
as in partner
the person to whom another is married they vowed to each other that they would remain mates for life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in friend
chiefly British a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another spent the weekend in London with some of his mates from Oxford

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mate

2 of 2

verb

as in to sleep
to engage in sexual intercourse cats conceive almost every time they mate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mate
Noun
The two wallabies are mates, and Wally is very devoted to Bindi, said Borozenets. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 Experts say unseasonably warm weather patterns at the beginning of the year have driven rattlesnakes out of their winter retreats ahead of rattlesnake season in search of food and mates. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
The handcrafted mill is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and makes 621 hp and 664 ft lbs of torque. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026 So the magnolia is a generalist, and the orchids are very, very specialized, sometimes in cooperative ways with their pollinators, and sometimes in sneaky exploitative ways, like pretending to be a female wasp so male wasps try and mate with you. — Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mate
  1. half
  2. associate
  3. assistant
  4. partner
  5. friend
  6. sleep
  7. match
  8. buddy
Noun
  • Momentum continued into the first half of 2026, with a double-digit rise in sales, the company said.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • After taking a healthy, 6-inch cutting, remove any flower spikes and the leaves on the lower half of the stem.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of half
Noun
  • The images — found in a search by The Washington Post — follow other controversial actions and rhetoric from former Collins staffers and other Collins associates that have dogged his Senate campaign.
    — Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Wolfe allegedly tipped off three associates who together made about $515,000 in unrealized profits.
    — Chase Jordan August 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of associate
Noun
  • This one was especially meaningful for 2010 Morton graduate Jimmy McCormack, an experienced assistant, including the previous two seasons as the Trojans’ offensive coordinator.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • O’Leary has helped himself by adding lots of experienced assistant coaches and former head coaches.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistant
Noun
  • The InnoAsia Startup Demo Jam sits at the center of the first track, with nine companies, drawn from the open call and international partner recommendations, pitching AI, virtual production and digital-asset technologies to investors and buyers.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The upcoming War seems to be an example of how Sky works with different outside and inside partners.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of partner
Noun
  • Her Steel Magnolias costars Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine and Sally Field also penned emotional tributes, as well as her friends Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett and Billy Ray Cyrus.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The first is something Panthea Parker, a headache become corporeal, brings up at a jewelry event hosted by her friend Queenie.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of friend
Verb
  • Dogs slept outside and got baths every six months and sometimes disappeared for three days and then came home smelling like Paris Hilton circa 2003, and no one asked any questions.
    — Mimi Montgomery, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Some slept on the floors, others circulated in and out of the air conditioning, and a few children played and ate.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sleep
Noun
  • Player of the Week Senior outside hitter Quinn Grevengoed tallies 92 kills and 15 aces in seven matches and then is named MVP for host Chicago Christian as Knights take tournament title for first time since 2014.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • For Katwala, the most impressive elements from the Games were the robots playing tennis, seeming to react to the movement of the ball and, in a match featuring robots playing alongside humans in doubles, of their partner, too.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of match
Noun
  • Another buddy, Steven Spielberg, also supplied some intimate footage.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Mel might be a disaster with her loud mouth and impolite antics, but her over-the-top meddling does her buddies some good.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of buddy

Phrases Containing mate

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matchups
mate
mated
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Cite this Entry

“Mate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mate

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