conform

verb

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 to conform 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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Other Words from conform

conformer noun

conformism \ kən-ˈfȯr-ˌmi-zəm

\ noun

conformist \ kən-ˈfȯr-mist

\ noun or adjective

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. 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

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

Last month American Eagle launched a new style in its Ne(X)t Level 360 collection, which is made from a stretch fabric that's meant to hug and conform to the body, with a tailored waistband that doesn't sag or gap. — Glamour, "These American Eagle Jeans Solve This Annoying Denim Problem for Good," 7 Mar. 2019 As my family stated, these types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily. — Vogue, "Jussie Smollett Speaks Out About Racist, Homophobic Attack," 1 Feb. 2019 Gorey never aspired or pretended to conform to conventional norms of dress, manner or ways of living. — Karen Wilkin, WSJ, "‘Born to Be Posthumous’ Review: Peculiar, Cynical, Ironic & Witty," 21 Dec. 2018 Partisan social identity didn’t seem to predict respondents’ willingness to conform to the views of their party’s members of Congress, however. — Benjamin Toff, Washington Post, "How worried are you about an impending trade war? That might depend on what your fellow party members think," 12 July 2018 The tiny earbud conforms to the upper ridge of your ear, so the tip stays in place throughout the night, even for side sleepers. — Maya Mcdowell, House Beautiful, "Sleepbuds Are Noise-Masking Wireless Earphones That Are Comfortable Enough For Side Sleepers," 19 Feb. 2019 Among them are the beliefs that the freedoms of others should be respected; beliefs should conform to a scientific understanding of the world; and that the struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit. — Justin L. Mack, Indianapolis Star, "Why The Satanic Temple Indiana adopted a stretch of highway in Boone County," 12 July 2018 Gmail and other types of Google accounts currently have the ability to work with keys that conform to U2F, a standard developed by an industry consortium known as the Fido Alliance. — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, "Iranian phishers bypass 2fa protections offered by Yahoo Mail and Gmail," 13 Dec. 2018 Many homes were destroyed because some poor families can’t afford concrete homes that conform to building codes meant to withstand typhoon winds, said Edwin Propst, a member of the territory’s House of Representatives. — Audrey Mcavoy, The Seattle Times, "US sends aid to Pacific islands devastated by huge typhoon," 26 Oct. 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.