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View synonyms for

conform

[ kuhn-fawrm ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to act according to or be obedient to a rule or norm (usually followed by to ):

    Every team must adopt and conform to league regulations.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. to be in harmony or accord (usually followed by with ):

    These results conform with those of similar studies done in the past.

  3. to act in accord with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc., of society or a group:

    One has to conform in order to succeed in this company.

  4. to be or become similar in form, nature, or character (usually followed by to ):

    Memory conforms to what we think we remember.

    I love how these slippers conform to my feet.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  5. to comply with the usages of an established church, especially the Church of England.

    Antonyms:



verb (used with object)

  1. to bring into agreement, correspondence, or harmony (usually used with to ):

    We need to conform our corporate practice to the new guidelines.

    Despite efforts to conform the data sets perfectly, some discrepancies will persist.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. to make similar in form, nature, or character (usually used with to ):

    Do not try to conform your partner to your ideal.

adjective

conform

/ əˈɔː /

verb

  1. intrusually foll byto to comply in actions, behaviour, etc, with accepted standards or norms
  2. intrusually foll bywith to be in accordance; fit in

    he conforms with my idea of a teacher

  3. to make or become similar in character or form
  4. intr to comply with the practices of an established church, esp the Church of England
  5. tr to bring (oneself, ideas, etc) into harmony or agreement
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Grammar Note

All senses of conform necessarily involve an underlying comparison of one thing or person to another. To introduce the second thing, there are two acceptable prepositions— to and with —each being more common with certain senses. When the sense has to do with one of the things being the standard or guide for the other, the most usual preposition is to: This wiring does not conform to the building code. The car seat conforms to your body. When the sense has to do with two things that independently happen to agree or match, with is more common: Your observations conform with my own experience. However, in each case, the other preposition is also correct. When the relationship between the two things is not clear, to tends to prevail: Fortunately, the weather conformed to our expectations.
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Derived Forms

  • Dzˈڴǰ, noun
  • DzˈڴǰԲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • Dz·ڴǰ· noun
  • Dz·ڴǰ·Բ· adverb
  • ԴDz·Dz·ڴǰ·Բ adjective
  • ·Dz·ڴǰ verb
  • ܲ·-Dz·ڴǰ·Բ adjective
  • ·Dz·ڴǰ verb
  • ܲ·Dz·ڴǰ adjective
  • ܲ·Dz·ڴǰ·Բ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of conform1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English confo(u)rmen, from Anglo-French, Middle French conformer, from Latin DzԴڴǰ “to shape, describe, make to agree,” from con- con- + ڴǰ “to shape, fashion” (from forma form )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of conform1

C14: from Old French conformer, from Latin DzԴھ to establish, strengthen, from ھ to make firm, from firmus firm 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Over the course of the show, it all unravels and everyone ends up being themselves instead of conforming to these societal norms."

From

It adds: "Marketers must not suggest that happiness or wellbeing depends on conforming to a particular body shape or physical appearance."

From

Glaser said she predicts she and other historians will have to watch their vocabulary going forward as the Trump administration continues to apply financial pressure on them to conform to his policies.

From

With the proliferation of social media, these unrealistic expectations of body image have become even more prolific, adding to the pressures men face to conform to them.

From

But it's a particularly delicate experience for queer people, who often spend a fair share of their childhood and adolescence conforming to the rigid norms of their surroundings.

From

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confocal microscopeconformable