How to Use comply in a Sentence

comply

verb
  • I asked the waitress to refill my coffee cup and she happily complied.
  • There will be penalties against individuals who fail to comply.
  • Many sites have complied, but not all.
    — ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Many states complied right away.
    — Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
  • Those who don't comply will be asked to leave.
    — Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The judge gave Ephron two weeks to comply.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Guests who fail to comply will be asked to cease smoking.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Guests who fail to comply will be asked to cease smoking.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Guests who fail to comply will be asked to cease smoking.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Guests who fail to comply will be asked to cease smoking.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Guests who fail to comply will be asked to cease smoking.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Guests who fail to comply will be asked to cease smoking.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Health care providers who fail to comply would face fines or up to five years in prison.
    — Tori Otten, The New Republic, 12 Jan. 2023
  • The deputy instructs the man to sit down, and the man complies.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 6 July 2023
  • The schools that didn’t comply would’ve lost state funding.
    — Camila Gomez, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Her brain was telling her body to fly and twist, but her body wasn’t complying.
    — Heather Long, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
  • Though, at times, the AI toys would comply.
    — Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
  • Romeo declined to comment on how those trips complied with the law.
    — Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Sep. 2023
  • Olson said that the school’s denial did not comply with the law.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
  • The victims complied each time.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • And if Good had complied, what did the agents intend to do with her?
    — Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The teen refused to comply when the driver asked her to move to the rear.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 13 Jan. 2026
  • All staff were told to comply with the directive.
    — Stephen Smith, CBS News, 11 June 2026
  • But the city still did not fully comply with the order, records in the case show.
    — Greg Moran, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2022
  • There needs to be penalties apply to the bill, so schools will comply with the law.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • If past is precedent, many of these videos won’t comply with copyright rules.
    — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 16 June 2023
  • The state had 30 days to come up with a plan to comply or lose funding.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The man initially complied, then fled the scene.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Companies that refuse to comply face hefty fines.
    — Caitlin Reilly, Fortune, 17 June 2026
  • When guards came out of the building and told the group to leave, some complied, but others stayed.
    — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 24 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comply.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: