1
as in shape
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 & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in manner
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 & Similar Words
4
as in condition
a state of being or fitness
after a long season off, the football team is back in good form
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
6
as in ritual
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 today's Lenten service
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
displayed good form throughout the formal dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in method
the means or procedure for doing something
there are established forms for voting on motions and amendments at meetings
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
10
as in format
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged
museumgoers liked the asymmetrical form of the mobile
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to crystallize
to take on a definite form
my ideas on the subject are just starting to form
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to comprise
to be all the substance of
this one sentence really forms the basis of your argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to produce
to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials
formed the pot out of the clay
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to start
to come into existence
the new company formed from two smaller ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to develop
to come to have gradually
I don't want you beginning skiers to form any bad habits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of form
Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 May 2025
But many of those regulatory reversals will actually pile more costs on to individual Americans in the form of higher bank fees, electric and water bills, and health insurance payments, according to experts and government analyses.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
As a child growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina, Elliott Hundley formed his conception of how artists live based on cinematic archetypes of painters and sculptors roughing it in bohemian splendor in converted industrial spaces.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for form
Noun
While Zuckerberg’s north star may still be some form of the metaverse — a virtual world where people hang out, play, and shop — there is a recognition that the technology needed to get us there is artificial intelligence.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 May 2025
But many of those regulatory reversals will actually pile more costs on to individual Americans in the form of higher bank fees, electric and water bills, and health insurance payments, according to experts and government analyses.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Verb
The first tropical storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season typically forms around June 10.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
As a child growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina, Elliott Hundley formed his conception of how artists live based on cinematic archetypes of painters and sculptors roughing it in bohemian splendor in converted industrial spaces.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for form
Recent Examples of Synonyms for form
Noun
-
The new species was identified by the arrangement of its body plates, head shape, fin placement, texture and other other subtle physical features, the study said.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
-
By factoring in island shape, reef type and location, scientists and policymakers can make smarter, more effective decisions.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Unless businesses convert these types of documents into machine-readable formats, unethical practices, like forging signatures on financial documents, will accelerate.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
The surface of Enceladus, according to the decadal strategy document, should be capable of preserving biogenic evidence for a long time and seems more conducive to a lander mission.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Patching and firmware updates must be applied in a timely manner.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Investigators have not yet publicly released a positive identification or details regarding the cause or manner of death.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
The industry continued to grow until 2020, when a combination of weather and economic conditions dealt setbacks to farmers and processors alike.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
-
Dry mouth can be caused by medications, lifestyle factors, and medical conditions.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
This year, Hasbro also released a new Jem doll to celebrate the series’ anniversary.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 May 2025
-
Is a demonic doll touring the U.S. to blame for the mishaps in Louisiana?—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
Different communities worship different icons and have different ways of performing the rituals.—
Foster Klug,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
-
When your workday ends, physically close your laptop, turn off work notifications and transition into personal time with intentional rituals.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Understanding communication styles, business etiquette and decision-making processes in various regions enhances collaboration.—
Shirin Ali,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
Figuring out how to show up well in in-person meetings, especially as a new hire and even more so as a junior employee, can be tough, says Daniel Post Senning, etiquette expert with the Emily Post Institute.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Both methods remained in place as of publication time.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2025
-
Pricing can also vary by region, and depending on third-party payment methods, additional taxes or international transaction fees may apply.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Form.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/form. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share