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

The hope is to align AI with some purpose that beneficially leads to humankind and AI being on the same side and working together harmoniously hand-in-hand. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

But its core themes—the corrupting allure of control, the dangers of putting the future in the hands of greedy autocrats—align closely with those of the original Dune novels. —Emma Stefansky, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2024

The origins of Stonehenge are shrouded in mystery, but it was built to align with the sun on solstice days. —Amanda Cappelli, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024

This aligns with what longevity researchers and happiness experts say about the importance of having a purpose for life satisfaction and wellbeing. —Renée Onque, CNBC, 20 Dec. 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