conform

verb

con·​form kən-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce conform (audio)
conformed; conforming; conforms

transitive verb

: to give the same shape, outline, or contour to : bring into harmony or accord
conform furrows to the slope of the land

intransitive verb

1
: to be similar or identical
also : to be in agreement or harmony
used with to or with
changes that conform with our plans
2
a
: to be obedient or compliant
usually used with to
conform to another's wishes
The building doesn't conform to local regulations.
b
: to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs
the pressure to conform
conformer noun
conformism noun

Did you know?

Conform, with its prefix con-, "with" or "together", means basically "to adopt the form of those around you". Thus, employee behavior must usually conform with basic company policies. A certain philosophy may be said to conform with American values (even if we sometimes have a hard time agreeing on exactly what those are). And a Maine Coon cat or a Dandie Dinmont terrier must conform to its breed requirements in order to be registered for breeding purposes. Being a conformist is usually a safe bet; being a nonconformist, who ignores society's standards and the whole idea of conformity, can be a bit dangerous but also sometimes more fun.

Choose the Right Synonym for conform

adapt, adjust, accommodate, conform, reconcile mean to bring one thing into correspondence with another.

adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances.

adapted themselves to the warmer climate

adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism.

adjusted the budget to allow for inflation

accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence.

businesses accommodating themselves to the new political reality

conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle.

refused to conform to society's values

reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible.

tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew

Examples of conform in a Sentence

Most teenagers feel pressure to conform. the list conforms with the contents of the trunk
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Find it on Amazon This Oval Sofa Transforms Into a Comfy Spare Bed Provide extra comfort for guests with the curve sofa bed made with conforming memory foam, offering an easy folding design for convenient transformation. Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024 That evaluation conforms comfortably with the thinking of both Trump—who wants quiet, quickly—and Biden, who would like to see a cease-fire in Gaza and a deal in Lebanon before the end of his presidency. Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024 There has been no irony lost on me that some of the loudest voices in championing DEI have the the fastest to loudly shame and exclude those whose opinions have not conformed to their own. Margie Warrell, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Instead, these potential sponsorship deals with associated parties — APTs — had to conform with fair market value, with teams submitting their costings to the Premier League to see whether the deals complied. Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for conform 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French conformer, from Latin conformare, from com- + formare to form, from forma form

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of conform was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near conform

Cite this Entry

“Conform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conform. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

conform

verb
con·​form kən-ˈfȯ(ə)rm How to pronounce conform (audio)
1
: to bring into harmony
conform my behavior to the circumstances
2
: to be similar or identical
the data conforms to the pattern
3
: to act in obedience or agreement
especially : to adapt oneself to accepted standards or customs
conformer noun
conformist noun

Legal Definition

conform

intransitive verb
con·​form kən-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce conform (audio)
: to be in accordance : correspond in character
specifically : to be in accordance with the provisions of a contract
conformance noun
conformity noun

More from Merriam-Webster on conform

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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