conform

verb con·form \ kən-ˈfȯrm \

Updated on: 7 Apr 2018

transitive verb

: 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

2 a : to be obedient or compliant —usually used with to

conform to another's wishes

The building doesn't conform to local regulations.

b : to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs

the pressure to conform

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conformer

noun

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conformism

play \kən-ˈfȯr-ˌmi-zəm\ noun

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conformist

play \kən-ˈfȯr-mist\ noun or adjective

See conform defined for English-language learners

See conform defined for kids

Examples of conform in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of conform from the Web

When pressed to explain how the PadSplit model conforms to Atlanta housing codes and regulations, LeBlanc said that there’s a loophole that allows this type of conversion and occupation.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "This cohousing startup wants to help the working class," 30 Mar. 2018
The Nazis identified communities that did not conform to their criteria.

— sergio carmona, Jewish Journal, "Yom HaShoah events taking place in Broward and Miami-Dade counties," 30 Mar. 2018
Mark, Darlene and David's gender non-conforming child, is named after uncle Mark, who in the original series was David's brother and Becky's husband.

— good housekeeping editors, Good Housekeeping, "6 "Roseanne" Reboot Premiere Moments You Definitely Missed," 28 Mar. 2018
The standard — or conforming — national loan limit, set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is $453,100.

— pat setter, sandiegouniontribune.com, "To get the best mortgage rate, take care of these factors," 17 Mar. 2018
Some law enforcement officials in pot-legal states argue the legal trade has caused unintended problems like black-market marijuana growing and dealing by people who don’t even try to conform to the legal framework.

— Time, "Jeff Sessions: U.S. Prosecutors Won't Take On Small-Time Pot Cases," 10 Mar. 2018
Some law enforcement officials in pot-legal states argue the legal trade has caused unintended problems like black-market marijuana growing and dealing by people who don’t even try to conform to the legal framework.

— Washington Post, "Sessions: US prosecutors won’t take on small-time pot cases," 10 Mar. 2018
Some law enforcement officials in pot-legal states argue the legal trade has caused unintended problems like black-market marijuana growing and dealing by people who don't even try to conform to the legal framework.

— CBS News, "Jeff Sessions says prosecutors won't pursue "small marijuana cases"," 10 Mar. 2018
In this movie, for instance, women are powerful players, and those women are often dark-skinned with hair that conforms to African norms, rather than European ones.

— jerry large, The Seattle Times, "America long has needed the corrective lens of ‘Black Panther’," 18 Feb. 2018

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.

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.

Origin and Etymology of conform

Middle English, from Anglo-French conformer, from Latin conformare, from com- + formare to form, from forma form

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

conform Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.

- accommodated his political beliefs in order to win

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

CONFORM Defined for English Language Learners

conform

verb

: to be similar to or the same as something
: to obey or agree with something
: to do what other people do : to behave in a way that is accepted by most people

CONFORM Defined for Kids

conform

verb con·form \ kən-ˈfȯrm \

conformed; conforming

1 : to make or be like : agree, accord

The weather conforms to the recent pattern.

2 : comply

Every student needs to conform to school rules.

Word Root of conform

The Latin word forma, meaning “form” or “shape,” gives us the root form. Words from the Latin forma have something to do with shape. The form of a person or thing is its shape. To conform is to fit in with others in form, shape, or manner. Something formal, such as dinner, follows a specific custom or form. The format of something, such as a book, is its general shape and arrangement.