variants or less commonly aline
aligned also alined; aligning also alining; aligns also alines

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.
aligner noun

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 An optimistic attitude attracts good fortune as the moon and Jupiter align. USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 These cycles are inherent and might also establish someone as a night owl or an early bird, Goldstein said, and could cause difficulty with keeping up with a work schedule that does not align with an individual’s biological cycle, resulting in daytime sleepiness. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Until its final days in office, the Law and Justice government was preparing various legislative traps, including efforts to give more power to the country’s president, Andrzej Duda, a former Law and Justice member who usually remains aligned with the party. Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 Whatever’s behind it, Trump is in the unusual position of being aligned with Squad members like Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.) on the TikTok issue, and the many Republican lawmakers who want the app banned are now in a real quandary. David Meyer, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 The skills align with Warren’s profession as a marketing consultant and publicist. Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 From eco-friendly initiatives to engaging with local communities, the sector is aligning with the global mandate for environmental stewardship while offering immersive, culturally rich experiences. Jim Dobson, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 And his response to the consternation his arrival stirred up seems aligned with his collaborative, getting-his-hands-dirty approach. Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024 In early 2023, Japan and the Netherlands agreed to limit the export of advanced chip making equipment to Chinese companies, aligning themselves with U.S. efforts to constrain China’s chip sector. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'align.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French aligner, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + ligne line, from Latin linea

First Known Use

circa 1693, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of align was circa 1693

Dictionary Entries Near align

Cite this Entry

“Align.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/align. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

align

verb
variants also aline
1
: to bring into or be in line or alignment
2
: to cause to be for or against something (as a belief or political party)
aligned himself with the opposition
aligner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on align

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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