Accompanied by vs. Accompanied with

Accompanied by

/əˈkʌmpənid baɪ/

When something happens together with another thing

Examples:

The meal was accompanied by a glass of fine wine.The meeting was accompanied by a slideshow presentation.She was accompanied by her loyal pet everywhere.

Synonyms:

along with

Antonyms:

withoutunaccompanied

Accompanied with

/əˈkʌmpənid wɪð/

Occurs together with something else

Examples:

His speech was accompanied with loud applause.The storm was accompanied with strong winds and lightning.Her surprise was accompanied with a heartfelt hug.

Synonyms:

alongside

Antonyms:

solounaccompaniedalone

Ways to tell them apart:

• Use accompanied by when referring to people or things that are attending together with someone or something.
• Accompanied with often implies that something comes along with another as a background or enhancement, though this usage can sometimes overlap with accompanied by.
• In formal writing, accompanied by is more commonly used and accepted, particularly in American English.
• Remember that by usually showcases the agent or the cause more directly than with.
• Think of accompanied with more abstractly or metaphorically, whereas accompanied by refers more to physical presence.