conform
/kənˈfɔːm/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈfɔːrm/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈfȯrm/ (ame, mw)
conform — verb
- conformpresent simple I / you / we / they
- conformshe / she / it
- conformedpast simple
- conforming-ing form
1. to act, dress, or think the way most members of your community do, matching thei
to act, dress, or think the way most members of your community do, matching their standards rather than choosing a completely individual path.
Many teenagers feel pressure to conform to the fashion choices of their friends.
conform to + noun phrase (social norms)
Kemi refused to conform and wore her own style of clothing to school every day.
In some workplaces, new employees are expected to conform to a strict dress code.
The painter did not conform to any single artistic tradition and developed a unique style.
Eli decided to stop conforming and began sharing his real opinions during meetings.
- fit in
informal; emphasises being accepted by a group rather than following rules
- follow the crowd
idiomatic; suggests doing what everyone else does without thinking
- comply
more formal and related to rules or instructions rather than social norms
文法句型
conform + to + noun phrase (social group, norms, expectations)
用法筆記
Commonly describes social behaviour and peer pressure. The person or group being followed is introduced by 'to'. This sense is typically about unwritten social expectations rather than formal rules or laws.
常見錯誤
2. to follow a law, rule, or official standard that controls how things must be don
to follow a law, rule, or official standard that controls how things must be done, made, or organised.
All electrical products must conform to international safety standards before they can be sold.
modal + conform to + safety standards
The architect realised that the design did not conform to the local fire codes.
negative: did not conform to + regulations
Samir checked that every part of the software conformed to the company's data protection rules.
Manufacturers must ensure that their packaging materials conform to environmental guidelines.
The university's admissions policy must conform to national anti-discrimination law.
- comply with
equally formal; commonly used in legal and regulatory writing
- adhere to
suggests a stronger commitment to following principles strictly
- abide by
common for rules, laws, and agreements; slightly less formal
文法句型
conform + to + noun phrase (law, rule, regulation, standard)
用法筆記
Frequent in legal, regulatory, and business writing. The subject is often an organisation, product, process, or policy rather than an individual person distinguishing this sense from sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. to be like something else or to match it closely in shape, quality, or character
to be like something else or to match it closely in shape, quality, or character.
His description of the accident did not conform with the official police report.
conform with + noun phrase (correspondence)
The actual measurements of the room conformed closely to the architect's original drawings.
adverb: conformed closely to
Aylin was pleased to see that the final test results conformed to the predicted values.
The new housing development conforms with the traditional architectural style of the old town.
- correspond
neutral and common in academic contexts; often used with 'to'
- match
more informal and direct; widely used in everyday language
- align with
suggests being in agreement or harmony with something
- differ
to be unlike or distinct from something
- contradict
to be in direct opposition to something, especially in facts or statements
文法句型
conform + to/with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from senses 1 and 2: this sense describes correspondence or similarity in form and character rather than following social expectations or obeying rules. 'Conform with' is especially common in academic and technical writing for this meaning.