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

Placing the unit in the window will require you to seat the heavy unit on the bottom sill and slide the window into place, aligned with the rail on the top of the unit, while supporting the unit's weight with one arm. —Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2024

Young Latino college students in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania told NBC News in April that while most supported progressive policies that aligned with the Democratic agenda, few expressed support for Biden or Trump. —Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 25 July 2024

Thorne explains that the term has slightly different senses in London street slang, which is heavily influenced by Jamaican Patois, and is aligned with the Sir-Mix-A-Lot origins. —Nafeesah Allen, Parents, 24 July 2024

On Friday, the mayor, who’s politically aligned with Zhuang, met with her privately at City Hall. —Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 24 July 2024

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