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
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.
To make this more achievable, academic institutions should prioritize ongoing relationships with professional associations, relevant government agencies and industry groups to attain both the resources and input needed to align with the needs of an evolving workforce. Chris Dimitriadis, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 The piece highlights a blend of bold country style and high jewelry detail, aligning with the visual language of Cowboy Carter. Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 20 May 2025 But the truth is that the push to align scholarship with government interests is not new. Time, 20 May 2025 The British elected to prevent a future crisis by more intently aligning their interests with America's, while the French took the opposite approach by taking steps toward increasing their independence. Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for align

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Align.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/align. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!