comport

1 of 2

verb

com·​port kəm-ˈpȯrt 

comported; comporting; comports

intransitive verb

: to be fitting : accord

actions that comport with policy

transitive verb

: behave

especially : to behave in a manner conformable to what is right, proper, or expected

comported himself well in the crisis

comportment

kəm-ˈpȯrt-mənt 

noun

comport

2 of 2

noun

com·​port ˈkäm-ˌpȯrt 

: compote sense 2

Did you know?

Comport and Behavior

With its prefix com-, "with", the Latin word comportare meant "to bring together". So it's easy to see how in English we could say that a college's policy comports with state law, or that a visit to your parents doesn't comport with your other weekend plans, or that your aunt and uncle won't listen to anything on TV that doesn't comport with their prejudices. The "behave" sense of the word comes through French, and its essential meaning is how a person "carries" him- or herself. So you may say, for instance, that your 17-year-old comported himself well (for once!) at the wedding reception, or that an ambassador always comports herself with dignity—that is, her comportment is always dignified—or that your class comported itself in a way that was a credit to the school.

Synonyms

Verb

• correspond
• conform
• coincide
• fit

Choose the Right Synonym for comport

behave, conduct, deport, comport, acquit mean to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way.

behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

the hero deported himself in accord with the code of chivalry

comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

Examples of comport in a Sentence

Verb

an outfit that most definitely does not comport with the company's guidelines for dress-down days

the grieving relatives comported themselves with grace and dignity during that difficult time

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

And yet, Brian Schmetzer’s side comported itself with capable play, an unflinching determination and some moments of quality that have kept games from ever getting out of hand. —Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 20 June 2025

The change can be seen in the way Li comports himself in public appearances. —Cai Xia, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022

Few of these allies and partners will comport themselves according to U.S. values. —Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2021

Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark threw cold water on the trade, saying fans should be worried about how Pickens comported himself with his former team. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle French comporter to bear, conduct, from Latin comportare to bring together, from com- + portare to carry — more at fare

First Known Use

Verb

1589, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1771, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing comport

• comport oneself
• comport with

Rhymes for comport

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort
• forecourt

Kids Definition

comport

verb

com·​port

kəm-ˈpōrt,

-ˈpȯrt

1

: to be in agreement : accord

actions that comport with the rules

2

: behave sense 1, conduct

comport yourself with dignity