reformed; reforming; reforms
1
a
: to put or change into an improved form or condition
b
: to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses
2
: to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action
3
: to induce or cause to abandon evil ways
reform a drunkard
4
a
: to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking
b
: to produce (gasoline, gas, etc.) by cracking
: to become changed for the better
1
: amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved
2
: removal or correction of errors or of an abuse or a wrong
3
capitalized
: reform judaism
1
: relating to or favoring reform
All of the great American reform movements—from civil rights to child-labor laws—started far from Washington, D.C. In state legislatures and town halls …—
William Greider
William Greider2
Reform
: of, relating to, or practicing Reform Judaism
Reform Jews, by the end of the nineteenth century, had adopted the custom of rising to their feet to pronounce the Shema in unison.—Jonathan D. Sarna
Jonathan D. Sarna
re-formed; re-forming; re-forms
: to form again
: to take form again
the ice re-formed on the lake
Synonyms
Examples of reform in a Sentence
Verb (1)
The program is designed to reform prisoners.
They want to reform campaign spending.
The laws need to be reformed.
The program is designed to help former gang members who are trying to reform.
Noun
A group of senators are calling for reform of the nation's health-care system.
He has proposed a list of political reforms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
After that debacle, Congress reformed election laws to keep itself out of the business of picking Presidents.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
At the moment, President-elect Donald Trump and incoming congressional Republicans show little appetite for transportation reforms, but a golden opportunity will come during the development of the next multiyear surface transportation bill, which is expected to be passed after the 2026 midterms.
—David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024
Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2022
Three of the seven candidates in Iran’s presidential election dropped out days before the June 18 vote, leaving just one pro-reform contender and helping hardline frontrunner Ebrahim Raisi consolidate his support.
—Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2021
Jeff Vandermeer, WIRED, 22 Oct. 2024
The notoriously volatile Britpop legends, who broke up in 2009 after songwriter Noel’s departure and refusal to continue working with frontman Liam, are planning to re-form for a 14-date stadium tour next summer.
—Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reform 
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.
Verb
Others, such as Brazil and India, work with Russia as members of BRICS but want to reform rather than renounce the existing global order.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
After that debacle, Congress reformed election laws to keep itself out of the business of picking Presidents.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
Also, removing the SALT limit would take away some of the revenue to pay for other TCJA reforms, Lewis says.
—Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
At the moment, President-elect Donald Trump and incoming congressional Republicans show little appetite for transportation reforms, but a golden opportunity will come during the development of the next multiyear surface transportation bill, which is expected to be passed after the 2026 midterms.
—David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
In a letter, 140 ophthalmologists raised concerns about a rising number of patients with severe eye injuries resulting from being shot with metal pellets and rubber bullets, according to pro-reform Iranian news site Sobhema and Iran International as well as other sites on social media.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2022
Three of the seven candidates in Iran’s presidential election dropped out days before the June 18 vote, leaving just one pro-reform contender and helping hardline frontrunner Ebrahim Raisi consolidate his support.
—Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2021
Verb
Old Jim kept seeing the biologists by a trick of faulty video running away from the release site, only to re-form in their drinking circle.
—Jeff Vandermeer, WIRED, 22 Oct. 2024
The notoriously volatile Britpop legends, who broke up in 2009 after songwriter Noel’s departure and refusal to continue working with frontman Liam, are planning to re-form for a 14-date stadium tour next summer.
—Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reform
Articles Related to reform
Dictionary Entries Near reform
Cite this Entry
“Reform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reform. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reform
1 of 3 verb
re·form
ri-ˈfȯ(ə)rm 
1
: to make better by removal of faults
reform a prisoner
2
: to correct or improve one's own behavior or habits
reform
2 of 3 noun1
: improvement in what is bad
2
: a removal or correction of an abuse, a wrong, or errors
re-form
3 of 3 verb(ˈ)rē-ˈfȯ(ə)rm
: to form again
the ice re-formed on the lake
Legal Definition
reform
transitive verb
re·form
ri-ˈfȯrm
1
: to put (a writing) into a corrected form that more accurately reflects the agreement of the parties
allows a writing signed by mistake to be reformed—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
compare ratify
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.2
: to induce or cause to abandon wrongful or harmful ways
a reformed drug dealer
: to become changed for the better
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share