align

verb

Save Word

\ ə-ˈlīn

variants: or less commonly aline

aligned also alined; aligning also alining; aligns also alines

Definition of align

transitive verb

1 : to bring into line or alignment aligned the books on the shelf

2 : to array on the side of or against a party or cause He aligned himself with the protesters.

intransitive verb

1 : to get or fall into line He aligned with his friends against a common enemy.

2 : to be in or come into precise adjustment or correct relative position Negative ends of molecules align with positive ends of other molecules.

Other Words from align More Example Sentences Learn More about align

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of align in a Sentence

He aligned the two holes so he could put the screw through them. The two parts of the machine are not properly aligned. The text aligns with the bottom of the picture. The schools had to align their programs with state requirements. She is aligning with other senators to oppose his nomination.

Recent Examples on the Web The process is neither easy nor guaranteed; many stars aligned for Gobrecht's success. — NBC News, "2nd baby born in U.S. thanks to uterus transplanted from deceased donor," 9 Jan. 2020 The findings point to an evangelical Protestant constituency that’s more firmly aligned with President Donald Trump’s agenda than other Americans of faith. — Washington Post, "Poll: White evangelicals distinct on abortion, LGBT policy," 2 Jan. 2020 The withdrawal was instigated by the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella body for dozens of militia groups including factions aligned with Iran. — Isabel Coles, WSJ, "Militia Supporters Retreat From U.S. Embassy Site in Iraq," 1 Jan. 2020 Radial velocity measurements only tell you how much the star is moving, but that motion could be caused by a relatively small planet with an orbital plane aligned with the line of sight from Earth. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "The 2010s: Decade of the exoplanet," 31 Dec. 2019 By 2025 Werner Hoyer, its boss, wants 50% of its lending to go to green projects, up from 28% today, and the rest to go to investments aligned with climate-change goals. — The Economist, "The EU’s Green Deal is full of ambition but needs more detail," 12 Dec. 2019 The aid is intended to counter Iran's growing influence in Lebanon, which is home to Hezbollah, a Shiite militant and political party aligned with Iran. — Fox News, "Trump administration releases $105M military aid for Lebanon after months of delay," 3 Dec. 2019 This movie aligned with my values as an artist who wants to make protest art. — Ramin Zahed, chicagotribune.com, "‘Queen and Slim’s’ Melina Matsoukas wanted to direct Lena Waithe’s script as soon as she read it," 22 Nov. 2019 The girls attended a Quaker school that in many ways aligned with the values the family embraced at home. — Dani Mcclain, The Atlantic, "What’s Lost When Black Children Are Socialized into a White World," 21 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'align.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.