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.
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Recent Examples of form
Alex Averbuch, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
In medieval Japan, sumo became more practical, as much a form of martial-arts training as a sport.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 23 Feb. 2026
According to the study, Saturn’s rings could have formed hundreds of millions of years after the event.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for form
Noun
Recent books by Anna Malihon, Iryna Vikyrchak, and Lesyk Panasiuk demonstrate with striking clarity that in wartime, poetry functions not as a secondary cultural response, but as a form of survival, resistance, and ethical witnessing.
—Alex Averbuch, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
In medieval Japan, sumo became more practical, as much a form of martial-arts training as a sport.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
In terms of how stress affects breathing, Marsh said email apnea can cause bad habits to form; the body gets used to micro-bracing the diaphragm and chest, so this breathing pattern can become a habit.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 23 Feb. 2026
According to the study, Saturn’s rings could have formed hundreds of millions of years after the event.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for form
Recent Examples of Synonyms for form
Noun
-
Dumplings come in all shapes and sizes, with the dough and fillings usually made fresh in large family gatherings at home.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
26 Feb. 2026
-
There’s Jacob Elordi and his suite of Bottega Veneta, Fendi, and Burberry bags in every size, shape, and weave going.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Among thousands of documents made public, some photos showed him on a private plane, including one with a woman, whose face is redacted, seated alongside him with her arm around him.—
STEVEN SLOAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
-
On Monday, Graf granted a request from a coalition of news organizations including the Associated Press to allow attorneys for the media to view defense requests to classify documents in the case.—
Hannah Schoenbaum,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Somewhere along the line, the old etiquette has been forgotten and new manners have been invented by their husbands.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
His cause of death is pending an investigation, and his manner of death is pending an autopsy.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its Hadley liquid rocket engines have already flown in hypersonic conditions, validating propulsion performance in real-world scenarios.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Feb. 2026
-
There has been speculation that the allies are seeking to tone down the drills to create conditions for dialogue with North Korea.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Even Pop Mart, the toy maker behind the Labubu dolls, also operates a theme park in Beijing.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Autism is a spectrum, and no single doll can represent every child’s experience.—
Tiffany Hodges,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Evening rituals in the communal Living Room rotate nightly, and could include old-timey games from Jinguashi in northern Taiwan, or a DIY herbal tea session inspired by the Chinese medicine shops lining Taipei’s Huaxi Street.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Spring cleaning is a ritual in many households.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
My adult daughters learned etiquette from me.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
According to Sara Nibler, a recruiter at Redballoon who places candidates in roles ranging from manufacturing to media, job seekers are increasingly confusing the convenience of Zoom with an excuse to abandon basic professional etiquette.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Distillation is a common method of training in the AI industry with frontier labs often distilling their own models to make cheaper versions for customers.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The actual method is less important than being able to see and keep track of everything.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Form.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/form. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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