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
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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
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Recent Examples of form
Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
By measuring levels of radiocarbon — a naturally occurring form of carbon that changes over time — the team could calculate how long the protein, and the shark, had existed.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Observations of stars in the thick disk by the European Space Agency's Gaia mission suggest the thick disk began forming 13 billion years ago, whereas the thin disk is thought to be much younger, forming about 9 billion years ago.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for form
Noun
But growth that outpaces a system’s ability to absorb it is a form of pathology.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
By measuring levels of radiocarbon — a naturally occurring form of carbon that changes over time — the team could calculate how long the protein, and the shark, had existed.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Context In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled that denying undocumented children violated the Equal Protection Clause, with one conservative justice joining all four liberal justices on the court to form a majority.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Observations of stars in the thick disk by the European Space Agency's Gaia mission suggest the thick disk began forming 13 billion years ago, whereas the thin disk is thought to be much younger, forming about 9 billion years ago.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for form
Recent Examples of Synonyms for form
Noun
-
Traditionally, this dessert asks you to (1) swaddle hot cake in a kitchen towel; (2) roll, cool, and unroll it to set the shape; then (3) fill and reroll it with bated breath.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Milky Way™ requires little to no pruning to maintain an attractive shape.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Specifically, Morris asked Gateway for a one-time payment of $1 million and an annual retirement package of $600,000 to $800,000 for the rest of the couple’s lives, according to Tarrant County court documents filed by the church.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Williams left briefly before returning, after which the security guard sprayed him with mace, the court document said.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The medical examiner determined Moore’s cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide.—
Kathryn Kovalenko,
Twin Cities,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Nothing except getting into fierce arguments with fellow-Jews, some would say, which Olitzky—who has a round, boyish face and a conciliatory manner—portrayed as a privilege rather than a burden.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To single out the biennial as uniquely compromised is less an ecological diagnosis than a deflection of a broader structural condition.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Royals got a measure of revenge Wednesday, scoring early and often in a 13-9 victory over the Twins in some rainy, foggy conditions.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Three-year-old Agatha Acker, in a cute gingham outfit and gas mask, brought along her doll, Betty Lou, also tricked out in a pretty dress, and a gas mask.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Put on your cutest pink outfit and channel your inner child at this event that’s 100% dedicated to the iconic Mattel doll.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
During the seder, the story of Exodus is retold through a series of rituals, including eating matzah and drinking four cups of wine.—
Bailey Allen,
Cape Cod Times,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Looking back, among the largest gatherings was always Easter morning, and, of course, it was filled with rituals.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In 2016, Brooks could not even conceive of the spasms and breaches of etiquette that Trumpism would produce on an almost daily basis.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The bundle also includes specialty courses like ASL for babies and toddlers — helpful for early communication — along with scuba diving hand signals and an introductory e-book on the origins and etiquette of sign language.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the revival is part of a national trend toward old-school testing methods like in-class pen-and-paper exams and oral tests to prevent AI use for assignments on laptops.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Using an online filing method generally can result in fewer delays and faster confirmation.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Form.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/form. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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