conform

con·form | \ kən-ˈfȯrm

conformed; conforming; conforms

Definition of conform

: to give the same shape, outline, or contour to : bring into harmony or accord conform furrows to the slope of the land

intransitive verb

1 : to be similar or identical also : to be in agreement or harmony —used with to or with changes that conform with our plans

2a : to be obedient or compliant —usually used with toconform to another's wishesThe building doesn't conform to local regulations.

b : to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs the pressure to conform

Other Words from conform Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about conform

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Choose the Right Synonym for conform

adapt, adjust, accommodate, conform, reconcile mean to bring one thing into correspondence with another. adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances. adapted themselves to the warmer climate adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism. adjusted the budget to allow for inflation accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence. businesses accommodating themselves to the new political reality conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle. refused to conform to society's values reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible. tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew

Did You Know?

Conform, with its prefix con-, "with" or "together", means basically "to adopt the form of those around you". Thus, employee behavior must usually conform with basic company policies. A certain philosophy may be said to conform with American values (even if we sometimes have a hard time agreeing on exactly what those are). And a Maine Coon cat or a Dandie Dinmont terrier must conform to its breed requirements in order to be registered for breeding purposes. Being a conformist is usually a safe bet; being a nonconformist, who ignores society's standards and the whole idea of conformity, can be a bit dangerous but also sometimes more fun.

Examples of conform in a Sentence

Most teenagers feel pressure to conform. the list conforms with the contents of the trunk

Recent Examples on the Web Its unstated premise is that events, even natural phenomena such as hurricanes, somehow conform at a basic ontological level to what happen to be the talking points of the older of our two major political parties. — Matthew Walther, TheWeek, "How the liberal consensus exercises its power," 30 Oct. 2020 The Vatican last week amended its mask mandates to conform to that of Italy, requiring them indoors and out. — Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, "4 Swiss Guards test positive as COVID-19 penetrates Vatican," 12 Oct. 2020 If a sign does not conform to the regulations, is a temporary sign left up longer than the allotted number of days or is considered to be abandoned, it will be removed by the Building Department. — Laura Bednar, cleveland, "Independence updates city sign ordinance," 11 Oct. 2020 The LuxeBreeze will help anyone chill out while the LuxeAdapt's fibers can conform to your body's needs –– either pick is a guarantee for a great night's sleep. — Alexandra Polk, refinery29.com, "MVP Deals Day: Exclusive Discounts On Award-Winning Goods Just For YOU," 7 Oct. 2020 In practice few, if any, of our choices conform perfectly to the most rational models of decision making. — Quartz Staff, Quartz, "How companies can improve their decision-making process," 5 Oct. 2020 The judge rejected arguments by Rittenhouse's attorney that the documents did not conform to statutory requirements and that extraditing the teenager to Wisconsin would violate his Constitutional rights. — NBC News, "Kyle Rittenhouse, charged with killing 2 Kenosha protesters, extradited to Wisconsin," 31 Oct. 2020 Uber has asked drivers to submit video messages and statements that conform to the company’s political position and respond to surveys regarding their voting preferences, according to the complaint. — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, "Uber, Lyft, DoorDash workers on Prop. 22: ‘I don’t want to end up on the wrong side’," 27 Oct. 2020 The Tempur-Pedic Mattress Topper is very soft and will conform to your body. — Leeron Hoory, Popular Science, "Level-up your bed with these mattress toppers and protectors," 22 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conform.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.