Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

form

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of form

1 to take on a definite form

  • my ideas on the subject are just starting to form
Synonyms of form

crystallize (also crystalize), jell, shape (up), solidify
Words Related to form

associate, coalesce, cohere, fuse

combine, conjoin, conjugate, connect, couple, join, link (up), unify, unite
Near Antonyms of form

break down, decay, decompose, disintegrate

2 to be all the substance of

  • this one sentence really forms the basis of your argument
Synonyms of form

compose, comprise, constitute, make up
Words Related to form

embody, epitomize, incarnate, incorporate, integrate, materialize, personify, substantiate

complement, complete, supplement

fill (out), flesh (out)

3 to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials

  • formed the pot out of the clay
Synonyms of form

fabricate, fashion, frame, make, manufacture, produce
Words Related to form

assemble, build, construct, erect, make up, put up, raise, rear, set up, structure, throw up

craft, handcraft

hew

forge, mold, shape

cobble (together or up), knock out, patch (together), throw up

prefabricate

create, invent, mint, originate

establish, father, institute, organize

concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up)

conceive, envisage, picture, visualize

refashion, remake, remanufacture
Phrases Synonymous with form

put together
Near Antonyms of form

disassemble, dismantle, take apart

break up, dismember

abolish, annihilate, demolish, destroy, devastate, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, flatten, pulverize, raze, ruin, shatter, smash, wreck

blow up, explode

4 to come into existence

  • the new company formed from two smaller ones
Synonyms of form

actualize, appear, arise, begin, break, commence, dawn, engender, materialize, originate, set in, spring, start
Words Related to form

be, breathe, exist, live, subsist

arrive, come on, emerge

coalesce, cohere, shape (up)

continue, endure, last, persist, survive
Near Antonyms of form

conclude, desist, discontinue, finish, halt, quit, terminate

disappear, dissolve, evaporate, vanish

depart, die, expire, pass away, perish
Antonyms of form

cease, end, stop

5 to come to have gradually

  • I don't want you beginning skiers to form any bad habits
Synonyms of form

acquire, cultivate, develop
Words Related to form

absorb, adopt, embrace, take in, take on

gain, get, obtain

achieve, attain, reach

foster, nourish, nurture, promote
Near Antonyms of form

abandon, desert, forsake

cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (also sluff), throw away, throw out, unload
Antonyms of form

lose

form

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of form

1 the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance

  • the wood-carver carved the block of wood into the form of a duck
Synonyms of form

cast, configuration, conformation, fashion, figure, geometry, shape
Words Related to form

contour, outline, profile, silhouette

frame, framework, shell, skeleton

arrangement, design, format, layout, makeup, organization, pattern, plan, setup
Near Antonyms of form

composition, material, matter, raw material, stuff, substance

2 a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it

  • I filled out all the forms for applying to the school
Synonyms of form

blank, document, paper
Words Related to form

instrument, writ

filing

sheet

3 personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting

  • it's bad form to throw a tantrum on the court just because you lost a tennis match
Synonyms of form

etiquette, manner, mores, proprieties
Words Related to form

amenities, civilities, pleasantries

bearing, demeanor, deportment, mien

courtesy, decorum, mannerliness, politeness

formalities, protocol, rules

air, attitude, carriage, poise, polish, pose, posture, presence

custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), trick, way, wont

convention, fashion, mode, style

4 a state of being or fitness

  • after a long season off, the football team is back in good form
Synonyms of form

condition, estate, fettle, health, keeping, kilter, nick [British], order, repair, shape, trim
Words Related to form

practice (also practise)

pass, phase, stage

footing, picture, posture, scene, situation, status

rank, standing
Near Antonyms of form

disorder, disrepair

5 a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes

  • put the dress on the form to finish pinning it together
Synonyms of form

dummy, figure, manikin (also mannikin), mannequin
Words Related to form

doll

6 an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules

  • we'll use the second form in our church missals for todayʼs Lenten service
Synonyms of form

ceremonial, ceremony, formality, observance, rite, ritual, solemnity
Words Related to form

amenities, civility, decorum, etiquette, graces, proprieties

protocol

convention, custom, habit, manners, mores, practice (also practise), standard, tradition, way

celebration, service

7 socially acceptable behavior

  • displayed good form throughout the formal dinner
Synonyms of form

decency, decorum, propriety
Words Related to form

etiquette

civility, courteousness, courtesy, gentilesse, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness, politeness, politesse

dignity, grace, refinement

discretion, prudence

appropriateness, correctitude, correctness, decorousness, fitness, rightness, seemliness

attention, attentiveness, care, carefulness

character, goodness, high-mindedness, honesty, honor, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness, straightness, uprightness, virtue, virtuousness
Near Antonyms of form

coarseness, crudeness, gracelessness

discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, vulgarity

imprudence, indiscretion

badness, evil, immorality, wickedness

debauchery, degeneracy, degradation, depravity, perversion

crookedness, dishonesty, underhandedness, unscrupulousness
Antonyms of form

impropriety, indecency, indecorum

8 the means or procedure for doing something

  • there are established forms for voting on motions and amendments at meetings
Synonyms of form

approach, fashion, how, manner, method, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack, tactics, technique, way
Words Related to form

mode, modus operandi

blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, intrigue, layout, line, model, plan, plot, program, route, scheme

expedient, move, shift, step

practice (also practise), process, routine

policy

9 the type of body that a person has

  • he has the big-boned form of a linebacker
Synonyms of form

build, constitution, figure, frame, habit, physique, shape
Words Related to form

anatomy, structure

10 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged

  • museumgoers liked the asymmetrical form of the mobile
Synonyms of form

arrangement, composition, configuration, constellation, design, format, getup, layout, makeup, ordonnance, pattern
Words Related to form

motif, theme

Learn More about form

  1. See words that rhyme with form Dictionary: Definition of form Medical Dictionary: Definition of form Spanish Central: Translation of form Nglish: Translation of form for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of form for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about form

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up form? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

exculpate

to clear from alleged fault or guilt

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. gaslight It is a word, though.

  2. invasion CNN reporter questions President.

  3. relevancy Ariana Grande slams ex-fiancé.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games