align

verb

ə-ˈlīn 

variants or less commonly aline

aligned also alined; aligning also alining; aligns also alines

transitive verb

1

: to bring into line or alignment

aligned the books on the shelf

2

: to array on the side of or against a party or cause

He aligned himself with the protesters.

intransitive verb

1

: to get or fall into line

He aligned with his friends against a common enemy.

2

: to be in or come into precise adjustment or correct relative position

Negative ends of molecules align with positive ends of other molecules.

aligner noun

Examples of align in a Sentence

He aligned the two holes so he could put the screw through them.

The two parts of the machine are not properly aligned.

The text aligns with the bottom of the picture.

The schools had to align their programs with state requirements.

She is aligning with other senators to oppose his nomination.

Recent Examples on the Web

This perspective aligns with moves like Lummis's 2023 amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, targeting anonymous transactions and asset mixers, and shows how the SRA framework could enforce stringent oversight, reducing bitcoin's utility as a censorship-resistant currency. —Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

However, for critics, his appearance embodied the troubling trend of celebrity figures aligning themselves with Silicon Valley’s new class of power brokers, often at the expense of the very communities their music once spoke for. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 20 Jan. 2025

For DeSantis, aligning himself with Trump strengthens his ties with the MAGA wing of the Republican Party, and sets him up as a possible successor when Trump is termed out in four years. —Julia Mueller, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025

In a rare show of unity, Musk and Zuckerberg sat side by side, underscoring their recent efforts to align with the incoming administration. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French aligner, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + ligne line, from Latin linea

First Known Use

circa 1693, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing align

• align oneself with

Kids Definition

align

verb

variants also aline

ə-ˈlīn 

1

: to bring into or be in line or alignment

2

: to cause to be for or against something (as a belief or political party)

aligned himself with the opposition

aligner noun