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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of form
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
As the heat dome in the East will be losing strength, Mother Nature will be lighting some fireworks of her own — in the form of thunderstorms.
—
Ben Noll,
Washington Post,
2 July 2026
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 July 2026
Under an indigo stage light, singer-songwriter Selines formed loose prayer hands around the microphone.
—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for form
Noun
At Yogyakarta’s Piyungan landfill in Indonesia, a city’s waste is sorted by scavengers and consumed by cows, quietly piling up into a hill, with their forms mirroring the landscape of trash around them.
—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
As the heat dome in the East will be losing strength, Mother Nature will be lighting some fireworks of her own — in the form of thunderstorms.
—
Ben Noll,
Washington Post,
2 July 2026
Verb
Willis ultimately met Morali and Belolo and went on to form Village People.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 July 2026
Under an indigo stage light, singer-songwriter Selines formed loose prayer hands around the microphone.
—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for form
Recent Examples of Synonyms for form
Noun
-
In what was billed as a bullpen game, Barnes handled the final seven innings, leaving the varsity bullpen in fine shape for the Padres series.
-
Norway sat off during the second half, holding their 4-5-1 shape, and the Ivory Coast equaliser came about from a system switch and double sub.
Noun
-
Court documents say witnesses noticed Lopez acting strangely before the attack.
-
Melvin Shimkus, 52, was arrested on a charge of vulnerable adult abuse after allegedly leaving his 31-year-old son, Hunter Shimkus, in a bathtub for seven weeks, according to local outlets, AZ Family, 12 News and Fox 10 TV, citing court documents.
Noun
-
But even here, where the damage is being done gleefully and wantonly, the US Congress has stood up to these funding cuts in a bipartisan manner.
-
The platform should be structured in a manner that is intuitive, engaging and easy to navigate, enabling employees to quickly locate relevant information and resources.
Noun
-
Air conditioning will be keeping millions of Americans safe and comfortable over the holiday weekend as a heat dome brings dangerous conditions to millions.
-
The statute would ban covered officers from wearing masks or shielding their identities while on duty and interacting with the public, with exceptions including medical masks, religious coverings, certain tactical equipment and hazardous conditions.
Noun
-
The script by Kevin Wade throws up hurdles of sexism and class snobbery, never sugarcoating how Tess’s male co-workers treat her like a blow-up doll.
-
Rodrigo caught heat after performing in a baby-doll dress with bloomers beneath last month in Spain.
Noun
-
That the ritual continues Saturday after Saturday, year after year, is its own kind of small miracle.
-
Supporters argue that the gatherings represent a form of devotion untethered from rigid rituals and the gatekeeping normally associated with temples or religious processions.
Noun
-
Setting aside the question of whether any secondhand store would even want it, what is the appropriate etiquette?
-
What is summer wedding guest nail color etiquette, or the best nail colors that will give your hands that glowy tan?
Noun
-
Such methods can be more convenient than consulting websites or discussing such issues with a friend, neighbor or faith leader.
-
Engineers could compare different surface coatings and fabrication methods to identify options that produce the least electrical noise, helping improve the performance of future quantum computers and quantum sensing technologies.
Cite this Entry
“Form.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/form. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
