1.
together with; along with (a person or thing)
Attaches to a noun to mean 'in the company of' or 'in addition to.' Somewhat formal; と一緒に is the everyday equivalent.
2.
as; at the same time as (something changes)
Marks two changes that proceed in step: as the first thing progresses, the second happens too. Common with nouns like 時代, 年齢, and 成長.
The particle と plus 共に (together). Written とともに in kana or と共に in kanji; the kana form is more common in ordinary writing.
Usage
- Noun + とともに: the only pattern for sense 1.
- Change noun + とともに: sense 2, expressing parallel change (時代, 成長, 発展).
Common patterns
- 家族とともに: together with one's family
- 時代とともに: with the times
- 年齢とともに: with age
- ~するとともに: while also doing ~ (formal written style)
Register: more formal than と一緒に, and common in news, speeches, and written prose.