conform

verb

con·​form kən-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce conform (audio)
conformed; conforming; conforms

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
conformer noun
conformism noun

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.

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The famous Stanford Prison Experiment by Zimbardo revealed how quickly people conformed to roles of power or submission, often at the expense of empathy and fairness. Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Columbia, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania have made deals with the Administration to restore their funding, and other universities have conformed to what the Administration seems to want in order to avoid becoming targets themselves. Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025 Beyond the late nights and electronic music scene, Ibiza can be a sanctuary, a place where Black women can embrace rest, beauty and intentional travel without the pressure to shrink, explain or conform. Essence, 1 Sep. 2025 This is not something that is readily available in most situations, since the norm is to conform. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conform

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of conform was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conform. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

conform

verb
con·​form kən-ˈfȯ(ə)rm How to pronounce conform (audio)
1
: to bring into harmony
conform my behavior to the circumstances
2
: to be similar or identical
the data conforms to the pattern
3
: to act in obedience or agreement
especially : to adapt oneself to accepted standards or customs
conformer noun
conformist noun

Legal Definition

conform

intransitive verb
con·​form kən-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce conform (audio)
: to be in accordance : correspond in character
specifically : to be in accordance with the provisions of a contract
conformance noun
conformity noun

More from Merriam-Webster on conform

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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