Definition of conform
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
2a : 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
conformer
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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
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Instead of a hand or clasp, the gripper is a balloon filled with styrofoam pellets and coffee grounds that conforms to objects and holds them tight when air is suctioned out.
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Arya joins an organization—the Faceless Men at the House of Black and White—and tries to conform to its rules.
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The reasons boil down to the militants’ fervor to erase from history whatever doesn’t conform to their extremist vision.
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Though the insult was directed at his opponent, feminists reclaimed it as a term that describes a woman who refuses to conform to narrow idea of how a woman is supposed to behave.
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Feel self-conscious about physical changes and feel pressure to conform to cultural gender norms.
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Jackson conformed reports that the Knicks have received phone calls from teams interested in acquiring the 7-foot-2 power forward, but also took the opportunity to call him out for skipping his postseason exit interview back in April.
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Current licenses force residents to conform to genders that don’t accurately reflect their identity.
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For a real choice and thus real liberty to exist, the government may not impose its own orthodoxy and homogenize all schools to conform to politically correct attitudes and ideologies.
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
Synonym Discussion of conform
CONFORM Defined for English Language Learners
conform
playDefinition of conform for English Language Learners
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: to be similar to or the same as something
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: to obey or agree with something
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: to do what other people do : to behave in a way that is accepted by most people
CONFORM Defined for Kids
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.
Law Dictionary
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for conform Spanish Central: Translation of conform Nglish: Translation of conform for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of conform for Arabic speakers
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