Definition of formatnext
1
as in layout
the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized the book's format is very user-friendly

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2
as in design
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged this abstract painter bases the format of his works on color and its subtle gradations and not line or form

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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 format Yen Press released an English translation in digital and paperback formats in 2020. Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026 In the playoff-era format, teams from this football-drunk state are 3-6 in playoff games. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 Today, audience fondness for pricey premium formats like IMAX has pushed the average adult ticket price above $13, according to research firm EntTelligence. Bob Mondello, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026 Price likened his attraction to the format to his early embrace of streaming entertainment back in the days when Hollywood remained skeptical of its staying power. Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for format
Recent Examples of Synonyms for format
Noun
  • Bitcoin got a boost after the White House hosted crypto leaders and urged Congress to pass the Clarity Act, a bill focused on crypto infrastructure and clearer layout on which federal agencies would regulate crypto.
    Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The layout of Homey, operated out of a hybrid office-store, unfolds residence-like, from living room to dining room, from kitchen to family room.
    Judy Sutton Taylor, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • If the show is now being repositioned as just for people who are fresh out of design school or who have made just one or two gowns before (like, cough, our beloved Jude), then say that.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Companies typically pass on at least some of those increases to workers, either through higher premium contributions or plan-design changes, such as larger deductibles or copays.
    Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The researchers argue that the enormous cliff system triggered prolonged erosion that stripped away vast amounts of rock and helped expose some of North America’s oldest geological formations.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The Penn State campus happens to sit on a karst formation, where water has slowly altered limestone bedrock, potentially creating a variety of weak spots.
    John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Treasury is managing yields, which looks like monetary policy, while the Fed’s balance sheet works mainly through the composition of government debt, which looks like fiscal policy.
    James Broughel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • As nickel leaves the material, its composition and electronic structure change, reducing catalytic performance.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The pattern was quite different when researchers looked at waist circumference.
    Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Human Rights Scores dataset has not been updated past 2021, but HRMI’s data collected since that time suggests that the pattern has continued.
    K. Chad Clay, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Jacksonville has a successful Triple-A franchise, the Jumbo Shrimp, that won its league last year, bringing fun theme nights, quirky mascots and between-inning craziness.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • It was also applied to various New York acts – the Ramones, the New York Dolls, Richard Hell – who experimented with outlandish outfits, back-to-basics songwriting, and themes of teenage alienation.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Format.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/format. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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