1
as in crystallizing
to take on a definite form
my ideas on the subject are just starting to form
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comprising
to be all the substance of
this one sentence really forms the basis of your argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in producing
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 starting
to come into existence
the new company formed from two smaller ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in developing
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
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Recent Examples of forming
Citric acid binds to calcium, stopping these crystals from forming into stones.
—
Zia Sherrell, Health, 7 Feb. 2026
Film-forming sealers eventually peel.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Anyone who met them back then wouldn’t have imagined them spending even a few minutes together, let alone forming a lifelong bond.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
Downstream, though, a large dip in the jet stream, or trough, has dug its claws in, bringing wave after wave of Arctic air southward, along with conditions that are ideal for forming powerful winter storms.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Natural spore-forming probiotics promote digestive health.
—Pubsubhub User, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
In the case of home damage after a freeze, being super proactive is your best bet for stopping any further issues from forming and ultimately saving stress, time, and money down the line.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Later in February, it will be joined by Mercury and Saturn, forming a triple treat for skywatchers to enjoy.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Each Friday, a queue starts forming at dawn, Lorealbert Gutierrez, a 19-year-old with five relatives in prison, told me.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Zia Sherrell, Health, 7 Feb. 2026
Film-forming sealers eventually peel.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Anyone who met them back then wouldn’t have imagined them spending even a few minutes together, let alone forming a lifelong bond.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
Downstream, though, a large dip in the jet stream, or trough, has dug its claws in, bringing wave after wave of Arctic air southward, along with conditions that are ideal for forming powerful winter storms.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Natural spore-forming probiotics promote digestive health.
—Pubsubhub User, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
In the case of home damage after a freeze, being super proactive is your best bet for stopping any further issues from forming and ultimately saving stress, time, and money down the line.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Later in February, it will be joined by Mercury and Saturn, forming a triple treat for skywatchers to enjoy.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Each Friday, a queue starts forming at dawn, Lorealbert Gutierrez, a 19-year-old with five relatives in prison, told me.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forming
Verb
-
Byard, who hopes to be here for the next Bears practice in May but may not be if free agency pulls him in a different direction, also sees a formula crystallizing for a multi-season run of success.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Photograph from Bettmann / Getty Was the Goetz incident a genuinely significant event, crystallizing something that was passing through the city, and perhaps is still with us today?—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The classes were small at first, comprising mostly Sharon’s brothers and a few of their friends.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Wikipedia also exists in more than 340 other languages, including Cheyenne, Samoan and Aramaic, comprising almost 10 times the number of articles in English.—
Imogen West-Knights,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Columbia River Basin, spanning an area roughly the size of Texas, was once the world's greatest salmon-producing river system, with at least 16 stocks of salmon and steelhead.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Perhaps, on extremely long timescales, those heavier elements will sink to the center of the core, producing an inert center that slows the rate of fusion even further.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Where to Shop First at the Thrift Store Both experts recommend starting with the categories that carry higher retail prices when purchased new.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
-
With Angelichio's hiring, McCarthy's coaching staff is starting to come together just over one week after he was introduced as the new head coach of the Steelers.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the future, it could be used for developing high-performance, sustainable materials for everything from aerospace engineering to advanced protective gear.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
This is a developing story and has been updated.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The program will focus on career exploration and work-based learning for students across three school districts, connecting classrooms with local employers.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Very social by nature, Marie enjoys connecting with others and forms strong bonds with both peers and adults when a genuine connection is made.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Despite the show being about London’s high society, the production team used the row of terrace houses composing the famed Royal Crescent to depict the exterior of the Featherington household.—
Kayla Keegan,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Due to the Los Angeles wildfires, he was trapped in Montana for a week without plans and started composing before the film had even officially secured a financing deal.—
Matthew Huff,
Vanity Fair,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Shares of Nvidia climbed at steep pace, making the AI giant the ninth company in the world to reach a $1 trillion valuation in 2023, three decades after its establishment.—
Rosa de Acosta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
In much the same way that Michael Jordan’s legacy was set at the Chicago Bulls, not the Washington Wizards, how much would making it to 1,000 goals or winning the Saudi Pro League impact Ronaldo’s own legacy in the game?—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forming. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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