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
The newly independent company can face weeks or months of pressure while its natural shareholder base is still forming.
—
Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
In forming our union, the founders fell terribly short of the declaration's promise, leaving slavery intact, allowing states to restrict the franchise to white men who own property.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Mineral sunscreens such as zinc or titanium oxide ward off the Sun’s rays by forming a protective film that also absorbs most UV light, but reflects some of it.
—Guy German, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
As the Taiwanese government aims to boost domestic production of military drones and Taiwanese citizens sign up for drone flight training, Taiwanese companies are forming international partnerships to sell more drones to the US military and other overseas buyers.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026
In 1997, Mesirow Financial acquired Stein’s firm, forming Mesirow Stein Real Estate.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026
Intensely star-forming galaxies, or starburst galaxies, are believed to have been prevalent around 10 billion years ago in the early universe.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 18 June 2026
At the same time, there have been bubbles of discontent forming within Russia, over the cost of the war and government crackdowns on internet access.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Within days of the film catching fire at the box office, lines started forming at both businesses, thanks to posts on Reddit and, now, viral clips on Instagram and TikTok.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026
Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
In forming our union, the founders fell terribly short of the declaration's promise, leaving slavery intact, allowing states to restrict the franchise to white men who own property.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Mineral sunscreens such as zinc or titanium oxide ward off the Sun’s rays by forming a protective film that also absorbs most UV light, but reflects some of it.
—Guy German, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
As the Taiwanese government aims to boost domestic production of military drones and Taiwanese citizens sign up for drone flight training, Taiwanese companies are forming international partnerships to sell more drones to the US military and other overseas buyers.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026
In 1997, Mesirow Financial acquired Stein’s firm, forming Mesirow Stein Real Estate.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026
Intensely star-forming galaxies, or starburst galaxies, are believed to have been prevalent around 10 billion years ago in the early universe.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 18 June 2026
At the same time, there have been bubbles of discontent forming within Russia, over the cost of the war and government crackdowns on internet access.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Within days of the film catching fire at the box office, lines started forming at both businesses, thanks to posts on Reddit and, now, viral clips on Instagram and TikTok.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forming
Verb
-
The lyrics describe a crystallizing moment in which the narrator realizes that her relationship is the thing that’s not working in her life, despite the best hopes and intentions.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
6 June 2026
-
Khosla himself has endorsed the idea of a national wealth fund, and the symmetry between his individual advocacy and OpenAI’s institutional proposal suggests that a policy framework is crystallizing within the AI industry’s upper echelons.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The same goes for the expedition team, comprising experts in various fields from marine biology to glaciology to sea kayaking.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
The festival will present 65 films from 16 countries, with 21 narratives and 24 documentary features as well as 4 shorts programs comprising 6 narratives and 14 documentaries.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
With its rich agricultural resources, the country is aiming to become a leader in producing next-generation biofuels.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
-
Before Wednesday’s storms, several large outbreaks occurred across the state the previous week on the evening of June 11, producing 20 tornadoes in the northern Illinois and northwest Indiana forecast area alone.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Though both teams are coming off wins, each tweaked its starting 11 from those openers, with Mexico changing three starters.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, police cut off traffic going east on Olympic Boulevard starting at Ardmore Avenue.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The agreement imposed limits on Iran's nuclear program to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
Rodriguez has been developing the concept for more than a decade, based on drawings and stories created with and for his children.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
There is an underground tunnel connecting the main hotel and the lobby/restaurant building, which makes navigating the area much easier in a wheelchair or for those looking to avoid a cold (but quick) commute.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
The challenge is connecting human language and visual understanding with the motor actions required to interact with the physical world.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
That provided a unique challenge for its composing team, Kris Bowers and Michael Dean Parsons.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
-
The consequences are showing up in classrooms, on college campuses, and increasingly in entry-level workplaces, where managers report that young hires struggle with everything from making eye contact during a conversation to composing a coherent professional email.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
-
Thinking of spending or making money?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forming. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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