1
as in shape
the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance
the wood-carver carved the block of wood into the form of a duck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in manner
personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting
it's bad form to throw a tantrum on the court just because you lost a tennis match
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in condition
a state of being or fitness
after a long season off, the football team is back in good form
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
6
as in ritual
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
we'll use the second form in our church missals for today's Lenten service
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in etiquette
socially acceptable behavior
displayed good form throughout the formal dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in method
the means or procedure for doing something
there are established forms for voting on motions and amendments at meetings
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
10
as in format
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged
museumgoers liked the asymmetrical form of the mobile
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to crystallize
to take on a definite form
my ideas on the subject are just starting to form
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to comprise
to be all the substance of
this one sentence really forms the basis of your argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to produce
to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials
formed the pot out of the clay
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to start
to come into existence
the new company formed from two smaller ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to develop
to come to have gradually
I don't want you beginning skiers to form any bad habits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of form
Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2025
Other questions abound and after soliciting questions, readers responded by submitting hundreds of inquiries via the Bee’s call-out form and through email.
—William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 19 Mar. 2025
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
The study authors believe the early galaxies may have formed more stars, and stars on a more massive scale, than expected, which would also affect the brightness of the galaxy overall.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for form
Noun
The most complex robot, though, was Cosmo, with his oversized head and unrealistic form.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2025
Other questions abound and after soliciting questions, readers responded by submitting hundreds of inquiries via the Bee’s call-out form and through email.
—William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
The United States, wary of centralized government power in the wake of its fight for independence from Britain, has consciously never formed anything resembling the national police forces that are so common in other countries.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
The study authors believe the early galaxies may have formed more stars, and stars on a more massive scale, than expected, which would also affect the brightness of the galaxy overall.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for form
Recent Examples of Synonyms for form
Noun
-
After close to a year away from the game recovering from left ankle surgery, the only way to get in game shape is to play in NBA games.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
19 Mar. 2025
-
By some key measures, the economy remains in solid shape, however.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The Washington Post, citing a document, reported Tuesday that the Trump administration is poised to cut more than 20% of the staff at the agency's Taxpayer Advocate Service, which operates as an internal watchdog.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 Mar. 2025
-
This motion is a ploy to delay producing documents and communications that UMG hopes to keep hidden and buried.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
His manner with the girl is more bemused, placating.—
Joyce Carol Oates,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
-
One of the biggest mysteries in the cryptoasset sector is, despite the rapid and comprehensive pivot of U.S. policymakers to one of a pro-crypto outlook, why cryptoasset prices have yet to respond decisively and in a sustained manner.—
Sean Stein Smith,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The director of the F1 movie, Joseph Kosinski, has revealed the one condition Lewis Hamilton had going into its production.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Officials issued mandatory evacuation orders via social media that included homes, hotels and a Walmart. Jennifer Thompson, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Norman, described the fire conditions in the central and northern parts of the state as historic and highly anomalous.—
Sean Murphy and Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Working from his home studio in Auckland, Lewis relied on advanced 3D printing to create five different versions of the scene-stealing doll.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Curated by fashion historian Karan Feder and drawn from the private collection of David Porcello and Mattel, the exhibit features more than 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, advertisements and other archival material, video interviews with the doll’s designers and more.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
McCray is accused of punching Wilson in the chest multiple times as part of a hazing ritual for the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, according to investigators.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Create rituals that become nonnegotiable: morning walks to school, Sunday pancakes or being the one who tucks them in at night.—
Jennifer Kamara,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
While Dubai is very international, understanding local customs and business etiquette is vital.—
Wayne Liang,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
From an etiquette standpoint, there may be another way.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Ferrazzi introduces methods like stress testing, where team members openly challenge ideas in a structured format to refine decision-making. Build Psychological Safety First – For negotiation to be effective, team members must feel safe voicing concerns.—
Kwame Christian,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
People who received any of the three methods of misinformation training performed better than those who did not, the results showed.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Form.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/form. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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