conform

[kuh n-fawrm] /kənˈfɔrm/

verb (used without object)

to act in accordance or harmony; comply (usually followed by to):

to conform to rules.

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.

to be or become similar in form, nature, or character.

to be in harmony or accord.

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

verb (used with object)

to make similar in form, nature, or character.

to bring into agreement, correspondence, or harmony.

adjective

Archaic. conformable.

Origin

1275-1325; Middle English confo(u)rmen < Anglo-French, Middle French conformer < Latin confōrmāre to shape. See con-, form

Related forms

conformer, noun

conformingly, adverb

nonconforming, adjective

preconform, verb

quasi-conforming, adjective

reconform, verb

unconformed, adjective

unconforming, adjective

Synonyms

1. yield, agree, consent. 3. correspond, agree, tally. 7. adapt, adjust, accommodate.

Antonyms

1, 5. dissent. 3. differ.

Examples from the web for conform

We edit all opinion pieces before they are published so that they conform to our editorial style and standards of readability.
Your chair tells you to conform or risk not being hired back next semester.
Once you figure out what the convention is, then you can decide whether to conform to that convention or not.
And he has never ceased to practice a method of allegorical interpretation that makes the text conform to interpreters' ideas.
There will always those who are willing to conform to so-called science since they have no real faith on which to stand.
Privileged politicians in power would always want their subjects to conform to their rule so that they could cling to power.
Yet for a short time they seemed to conform to the laws of physics, producing an equal and opposite reaction.
Younger workers still are able to conform to the demands of the new economy.
But today sees the release of two new action movies that don't conform to that rule.
Interestingly, though lonely people don't tend to conform, they also don't want to advertise their minority status.

British Dictionary definitions for conform

conform

/kənˈfɔːm/

verb

(intransitive) usually foll by to. to comply in actions, behaviour, etc, with accepted standards or norms

(intransitive) usually foll by with. to be in accordance; fit in: he conforms with my idea of a teacher

to make or become similar in character or form

(intransitive) to comply with the practices of an established church, esp the Church of England

(transitive) to bring (oneself, ideas, etc) into harmony or agreement

Derived Forms

conformer, noun
conformingly, adverb

Word Origin

C14: from Old French conformer, from Latin confirmāre to establish, strengthen, from firmāre to make firm, from firmusfirm1

Word Origin and History for conform

mid-14c., confourmen, from Old French conformer "conform (to), agree (to), make or be similar, be agreeable" (13c.), from Latin conformare "to fashion, to form, to shape; educate; modify," from com- "together" (see com-) + formare "to form" (see form (v.)).

Sense of "to comply with the usages of the Church of England" is from 1610s; hence conformist (1630s), opposed to non-conformist or dissenter. Related: Conformance; conformed; conforming.