comply

verb

com·​ply kəm-ˈplī 

complied; complying

intransitive verb

1

: to conform, submit, or adapt (as to a regulation or to another's wishes) as required or requested

comply with federal law

the devices comply with industry standards

2

obsolete : to be ceremoniously courteous

Synonyms of comply

• obey
• follow
• conform (to)

Examples of comply in a Sentence

I asked the waitress to refill my coffee cup and she happily complied.

There will be penalties against individuals who fail to comply.

Recent Examples on the Web

Vehicle stops can be inherently fraught and unpredictable, with the person behind the wheel in control of thousands of pounds of steel that can pose great risk should a driver refuse to comply or simply panic and flee. — Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Last year, Boise passed its own ordinance to comply with the law, banning camping and ticketing violators with an infraction and a $10 fine. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026

Council members also proposed requiring an annual report on how well the data center is complying with all city ordinances. — Ilana Arougheti july 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026

Sites that fail to comply could face civil action from the parents of kids who viewed pornography or anyone whose data is unlawfully retained. — Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "to accommodate oneself (to), go along (with), meet the expectations (of), satisfy (obligations of courtesy)," borrowed from Spanish cumplir in this sense, from the earlier transitive senses "carry out, execute, fulfill," going back, with conjugation change, to Latin complēre "to fill" — more at complete entry 1

Note: The verb comply appears more likely to have been borrowed directly from Spanish rather than via Italian (pace the Oxford English Dictionary, first edition). Its use in literate discourse may have grown out of the vogue for Spanish romances that began with The mirrour of princely deedes and knighthood, a translation by Margaret Tyler of Diego Ortúñez de Calahorra's Espejo de príncipes y caballeros that was first printed in 1578. An early example of comply in the relevant sense occurs in another translation of Espejo, by "R.P." (Robert Parry or Parke), printed about 1586: "that the counsaile which you doe aske of your nobles & subiects, is more to complie with them, than anie good will you haue to be counsailed" (The third part of the first booke, of the Mirrour of knighthood). The form of the verb shows assimilation to other verbs ending in -ply, as apply, imply, reply entry 1, and supply entry 1 (which, excepting the last, are not etymologically related).

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for comply

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny
• descry

Kids Definition

comply

verb

com·​ply kəm-ˈplī 

complied; complying

: to act in agreement with another's wishes or in obedience to a rule

comply with a request

complier

-ˈplī(-ə)r

noun