Meaning & use
on one accord
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Meaning
phrasefixed phraseAmericanformal
In complete agreement; united in feeling or opinion.
Grammar: Used after the verb be or after verbs like act, work, or live; it describes a group, not one person.
Patterns
- be on one accord
- work on one accord
- act on one accord
The committee was on one accord about the new rules.
They worked on one accord to finish the project early.
The whole community acted on one accord after the flood.
Common combinations
- be on one accord
- The members were on one accord.
- work on one accord
- We must work on one accord to succeed.
- act on one accord
- The leaders acted on one accord.
- live on one accord
- They live on one accord with their neighbors.
Synonyms and how they differ
- in agreement
- A more neutral, everyday phrase meaning the same thing.
- of one accord
- A more common variant, especially in British English and in literary or religious writing.
- united
- An adjective meaning joined together in agreement; it is more general than the fixed phrase.
Opposites
Word family
- accord noun
- A formal agreement or harmony between people.
- accordingly adverb
- In a way that is suitable or in agreement with what has been said.
Commonly confused: on one accord or of one accord? on one accord or on accord?
on one accord vs of one accord
'Of one accord' is the more usual form in British English. 'On one accord' is chiefly American and often sounds more formal or religious.
on one accord vs on accord
This is not a standard phrase. The correct expressions are 'on one accord' or 'of one accord'.
Practice
The whole team was ______ one accord about the plan.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'on one accord' (or 'of one accord'). 'In', 'at', and 'by' do not combine with 'one accord' in this expression.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “on one accord”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.