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 Star Fox's online competitive multiplayer supports up to eight players in four-versus-four formats where Team Star Fox faces off against their rivals, Team Star Wolf. Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026 Growth was primarily driven by newness from luxury brands including YSL, Carolina Herrera, Valentino and an early lead of new brand Belmond, as well as innovation including the new milk scent format from exclusive brand Noyz. Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 2 June 2026 Attaching a song to an existing popular meme format, dance, or repeatable caption structure with which people are already engaging. Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 This tournament will use a round-robin format, with the top two teams from that playing a 10-minute final for a $2 million prize. Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for format
Recent Examples of Synonyms for format
Noun
  • Rescue divers were asked to return to the cave site on Sunday morning to prepare for a potential mission to search deeper in the cave network for the pair, after the survivors provided a new map of the layout.
    Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • Perhaps the differences will show up in the King Bed floor plan, one of two floor plans listed on the Apex X23 website, but the Twin Bed layout pictured follows the Twin Bed configuration of Oliver's Legacy Elite II trailer quite closely, possibly right down to its very last inch.
    C.C. Weiss May 30, New Atlas, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • Loved the quirky design features, like the aluminum rocking chair at the work desk, which added unexpected personality to the room.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • The cups also feature a more angular design, visibly protruding rather than gradually curving.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • Unusual cloud formations took shape above Houston’s highways on Tuesday.
    Ben Noll, Washington Post, 3 June 2026
  • Bilardo, meanwhile, made a significant tactical switch, scrapping his 4-3-1-2 and instead using a 3-5-2 formation to provide a spare man against England’s strike duo, with Maradona playing off Jorge Valdano rather than behind two strikers.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • The composition of this fingerprint is different from the mixture of chemicals someone was initially exposed to, as some PFAS accumulate in blood to a greater extent than others.
    Carrie McDonough, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
  • From 1976 through 2008, the GPI was low and stable, averaging 13, but the composition shifted markedly over time.
    Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • But after seven episodes wearing down the viewer with a bleak perspective, in the season finale, Euphoria pulls itself out of its own somber patterns to reach for grace and mercy in Christian symbolism, American wholesomeness, and the concept of family.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 June 2026
  • Original details like fireplaces rub shoulders with custom carpets in graphic patterns.
    Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • But my belief is that this is the mighty theme contemporary fiction has largely overlooked.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • Based on six modalities, spa, holistic health, fitness, physiotherapy, aesthetic beauty and nutrition – and offering almost 200 different sessions and treatments – the 15 retreat themes include a new one, Ageing Well.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

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“Format.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/format. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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