1
as in shapes
the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance
the wood-carver carved the block of wood into the form of a duck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in figures
a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes
put the dress on the form to finish pinning it together
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in rituals
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
we'll use the second form in our church missals for today's Lenten service
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in methods
the means or procedure for doing something
there are established forms for voting on motions and amendments at meetings
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in physiques
the type of body that a person has
he has the big-boned form of a linebacker
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in formats
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged
museumgoers liked the asymmetrical form of the mobile
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in crystallizes
to take on a definite form
my ideas on the subject are just starting to form
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comprises
to be all the substance of
this one sentence really forms the basis of your argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in produces
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 originates
to come into existence
the new company formed from two smaller ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in develops
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
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 forms
Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
The downturn started with the ubiquity of smartphones, social media, and various forms of educational technology that have proved inefficient, with the pandemic acting as an accelerant.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 8 June 2026
In practice, staff can keep administrative windows or sensitive data securely on their side while pushing relevant content – like check-in forms, digital signatures, or purchase breakdowns – directly to the client.
—New Atlas, 8 June 2026
The film also calls for more human intervention to protect ocean species and ecosystems — something that Scholey argues is easier than other forms of conservation.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 June 2026
Taken together, these seven wonders highlight the many forms greatness can take in nature.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026
Past research has shown a few pathways to do this, but those give you slightly more complicated forms of amines that may not be as reactive.
—ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026
Occasionally, a bubble forms, then pops.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Anti-Catholic backlash continued into the 20th century, along with other forms of religious prejudice.
—Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 June 2026
This binary system forms the foundation of modern technologies, including smartphones, supercomputers, data centers, AI, and virtually every digital device in use today.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026
The friend group quickly forms a complex web of crushes that expand the love triangle to new frontiers of geometry.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026
The site forms part of the sprawling necropolis of Heliopolis, the city that served as the center of the cult of the sun god Ra for centuries.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 June 2026
The researchers say this behavior may help explain why only a small fraction of gas in molecular clouds ultimately forms stars, according to the statement.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 June 2026
Brown said the core of the organization is also part of the LGBTQ+ community, but the purpose of the parade and festival is to showcase how everyone in Waukegan forms a welcoming community for all of its residents.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Launching on June 12, one day after the FIFA World Cup starts, the collection folds soccer culture, national myth-making and social impact into one drop, and forms parts of Nike’s forthcoming Nike x2 series, a program of capsules uniting federations, creative collaborators and community partners.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 30 May 2026
At the front, the hood dives down below a wing, funneling airflow up and over the roof to another wing that forms the rear deck.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 26 May 2026
Noun
The administration has cracked down on most forms of migration for foreigners — demanding that bonds of up to $15,000 be paid for visa processing in some, mainly African, countries and requiring years of personal history, including social media accounts, to be vetted.
—Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
The downturn started with the ubiquity of smartphones, social media, and various forms of educational technology that have proved inefficient, with the pandemic acting as an accelerant.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 8 June 2026
In practice, staff can keep administrative windows or sensitive data securely on their side while pushing relevant content – like check-in forms, digital signatures, or purchase breakdowns – directly to the client.
—New Atlas, 8 June 2026
The film also calls for more human intervention to protect ocean species and ecosystems — something that Scholey argues is easier than other forms of conservation.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 June 2026
Taken together, these seven wonders highlight the many forms greatness can take in nature.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026
Past research has shown a few pathways to do this, but those give you slightly more complicated forms of amines that may not be as reactive.
—ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026
Occasionally, a bubble forms, then pops.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Anti-Catholic backlash continued into the 20th century, along with other forms of religious prejudice.
—Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Verb
Reputation, not additional charges, forms the basis of their business.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 June 2026
This binary system forms the foundation of modern technologies, including smartphones, supercomputers, data centers, AI, and virtually every digital device in use today.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026
The friend group quickly forms a complex web of crushes that expand the love triangle to new frontiers of geometry.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026
The site forms part of the sprawling necropolis of Heliopolis, the city that served as the center of the cult of the sun god Ra for centuries.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 June 2026
The researchers say this behavior may help explain why only a small fraction of gas in molecular clouds ultimately forms stars, according to the statement.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 June 2026
Brown said the core of the organization is also part of the LGBTQ+ community, but the purpose of the parade and festival is to showcase how everyone in Waukegan forms a welcoming community for all of its residents.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Launching on June 12, one day after the FIFA World Cup starts, the collection folds soccer culture, national myth-making and social impact into one drop, and forms parts of Nike’s forthcoming Nike x2 series, a program of capsules uniting federations, creative collaborators and community partners.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 30 May 2026
At the front, the hood dives down below a wing, funneling airflow up and over the roof to another wing that forms the rear deck.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forms
Noun
-
As the rocks eroded and wore away into their iconic shapes, there were Indigenous people who hunted, gathered and farmed beside them.—
Staff,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
Chestnuts bloom in these graceful, long pine-tree shapes, which look like a symbol of something.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Per the charging documents and jail records, Moore is being held without bail at the Clackamas County jail.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
-
Users can review calendar schedules, access documents, and interact with workplace data through voice commands and touch controls.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
His broad network of advisers includes many prominent figures, including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, investor Stanley Druckenmiller, and Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, all of whom appeared at his swearing-in last month at the White House.—
Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
Altogether, Russia fired 656 drones and 73 missiles at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukrainian Air Force figures, which said the vast bulk of the drones and just over half of the missiles were shot down.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The spa The spa is small and intentional, with treatments focused on restoration rather than over-the-top rituals.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Performers in traditional dress portray Inca nobility, priests and warriors, and the rituals are conducted in Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire and still widely spoken in the Andes today.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Radar testing provides measurable data A major part of the validation was Radar Cross Section (RCS) testing, which Boeing described as one of the primary methods for assessing an aircraft’s stealth characteristics.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
Those who bought the checks would then attempt to fraudulently cash them, according to federal prosecutors, using various methods.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Then these same superhero physiques appeared in rom-coms and dramas as regular-degular guys, muscles included.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
13 May 2026
-
The trend also comes at a time when weight-loss medications are on the rise, more ultra-thin physiques appear to dominate red carpets and some social media users have built platforms off the outward pursuit of thinness.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There are several other acts adding personal twists to surefire musical formats this week.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
-
Seven states, including Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming, do not offer public data access or have incompatible data formats.—
Dian Zhang,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Corgan, The Smashing Pumpkins frontman, gives an answer here that crystallizes one of baseball’s many charms.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Prior research into the shooter and his family combined with the new report crystalizes a picture of extremism, said Rachel Carroll Rivas, deputy director of research at the Southern Poverty Law Center.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forms. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
