format

noun

ˈfȯr-ˌmat How to pronounce format (audio)
Definition of formatnext
1
as in layout
the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized the book's format is very user-friendly

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2
as in design
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged this abstract painter bases the format of his works on color and its subtle gradations and not line or form

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 format Oral semaglutide already exists as a needle-free GLP-1 option, and several companies are developing dissolving oral films and other formats to deliver peptide drugs without a shot. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026 There would be only two games scheduled on each of the first three days rather than the current format of up to four games per day. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 During those negotiations, the owners proposed a 14-team playoff format. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026 The company snapped up the worldwide format distribution rights outside of Japan. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for format
Recent Examples of Synonyms for format
  1. layout
  2. design
  3. formation
  4. composition
  5. pattern
  6. theme
Noun
  • The 128 is semi-custom, like previous models, meaning owners can pick from a wide array of interior finishes, layouts, and furnishings.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Thanks to the home's single-level layout, there's plenty of headroom to stand up and move around.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of layout
Noun
  • Rooms Splayed across the cliff front and dense, thrumming jungle at the southwestern tip of Bali, the 37 villas that make up the property as of 2026 are each completely unique in design, character and art.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Often, the company sets its standards based on Japan’s service protocol, counter design and product innovation.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of design
Noun
  • Shy, nerdy and a pacifist by nature, Pavi has a personality, if one that’s still in formation.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Meteorologists say Isaias’s late formation is largely because of the presence of El Niño, a pattern of unusually warm ocean waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean that can alter weather patterns across the planet.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of formation
Noun
  • And this change—subtle but enormous, accreting, over decades, through various currents and ecologies of selection, like a change in the composition of pearls—has altered our collective sense of what comedy is.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In contrast, other oxides rose over time, suggesting that the newly arriving material has a distinct chemical composition.
    — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of composition
Noun
  • In other words, the hat is a shape that can infinitely tile, or cover, a 2D surface without ever creating a repeating pattern.
    — Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Luna implores Yue, recently divorced, not to get stuck in a holding pattern, either in her career or her relationships — but Luna, too, needs to make some changes.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of pattern
Noun
  • But the seeds are planted quickly for weightier themes to be explored later.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The two biggest themes in the letter address OpenAI’s ability to monitor its advanced models and its engagement with third-party safety organizations, such as METR.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of theme

Browse Nearby Words

formals
format
formation
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Cite this Entry

“Format.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/format. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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