format

noun

ˈfȯr-ˌmat How to pronounce format (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Having effectively launched the four-team CFP format in 2014, ESPN has maintained its status as the exclusive rights holder ever since. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Each version features the cast of autistic and neurodivergent interviewers audiences, who collectively quiz celebrities in an ask-anything interview format. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 Instagram is filled with videos like this, often inexplicably following very specific formats. — Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 OpenTable’s 2026 Dining Trends Highlights interest in happy-hour dining and experiential formats, offering options for diners who want a memorable experience without a hefty bill. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for format
Recent Examples of Synonyms for format
  1. layout
  2. design
  3. formation
  4. composition
  5. pattern
  6. theme
Noun
  • According to the layout document, Russian delegates were seated between attendees from South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • To accommodate the growth, the fair will also revise its layout.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of layout
Noun
  • Such designs can help militaries integrate new equipment without rebuilding their entire communications infrastructure around a single platform.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The handbag would go on to become one of Fendi’s most celebrated designs.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of design
Noun
  • The program also aims to make the systems easier for soldiers to operate, potentially allowing units outside traditional air defence formations to employ laser weapons against incoming drones.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • These changes would reduce costs, free up management bandwidth and improve IPO formation incentives.
    — Jeff Jacobs, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of formation
Noun
  • And this change—subtle but enormous, accreting, over decades, through various currents and ecologies of selection, like a change in the composition of pearls—has altered our collective sense of what comedy is.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In contrast, other oxides rose over time, suggesting that the newly arriving material has a distinct chemical composition.
    — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of composition
Noun
  • In other words, the hat is a shape that can infinitely tile, or cover, a 2D surface without ever creating a repeating pattern.
    — Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Luna implores Yue, recently divorced, not to get stuck in a holding pattern, either in her career or her relationships — but Luna, too, needs to make some changes.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of pattern
Noun
  • For the third straight year, BNY found that AI ranked as the most compelling investment theme for the next five years, cited by 68% of respondents.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Affordability is a major theme of the upcoming midterm elections — one that could have implications for how people vote in November.
    — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of theme

Browse Nearby Words

formals
format
formation
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Cite this Entry

“Format.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/format. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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