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

While the company has donated free trees to charities in the past, the city argues that does not comply with the zoning code requirement that proceeds of the Christmas tree sales go to charity. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026

Anthropic had to suspend access to its Fable 5 model days after launch to comply with US export controls tied to cybersecurity concerns, though access was restored a few weeks later. — Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026

And all Arizona cities are required to comply with standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026

These arrangements are generally voluntary, and any legally enforceable agreement must comply with American law. — Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 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