conform

verb

con·form kən-ˈfȯrm

conformed; conforming; conforms

Synonyms of conform next

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

: to be similar or identical

also : to be in agreement or harmony

—used with to or with

changes that conform with our plans

: to be obedient or compliant

—usually used with to

conform to another's wishes

The building doesn't conform to local regulations.

: to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs

the pressure to conform

conformer noun

conformism

kən-ˈfȯr-ˌmi-zəm

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.

The latter is used to ensure panels are secured properly, there are no gaps, and the finished car conforms to the CAD model it was built from. —

James Morris, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 Give yourself breathing room and the strength and courage to do what’s best for you instead of conforming to someone else’s plan. —

Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024 Before the case can head to trial, legal experts have said Trump could appeal any of her decisions regarding immunity one more time to the high court to check whether her analysis conforms to the new standard the justices set. —

Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Oct. 2024 But there are no fines when troubles arise or a program struggles to conform to the law’s strict regulations. —

Jackie Mader, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Conform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conform. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

conform

verb

con·form kən-ˈfȯ(ə)rm

: to bring into harmony

conform my behavior to the circumstances

: to be similar or identical

the data conforms to the pattern

: to act in obedience or agreement

especially : to adapt oneself to accepted standards or customs

conformer noun

conformist

-ˈfȯr-məst

noun

Legal Definition

conform

intransitive verb

con·form kən-ˈfȯrm

: to be in accordance : correspond in character

specifically : to be in accordance with the provisions of a contract

conformance

kən-ˈfȯr-məns

noun

conformity

kən-ˈfȯr-mə-tē

noun

Last Updated: 21 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

victuals

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

conform

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Examples of conform in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near conform

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition