# align

/əˈɫaɪn/ (US) · /ɐlˈaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/align
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to put in a line

verb · CEFR B2

to put things in a straight line or to make them level with each other.

For teachers: to arrange components or objects into a straight line or to bring them into a correct relative position.

- Make sure you align the edges of the paper before you staple them together.
- The mechanic spent nearly an hour trying to align the wheels perfectly to prevent the car from pulling to the left.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'with'.

### 2. to match ideas or goals

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to change something so that it matches or works well with another thing.

For teachers: to organise or adjust different elements so they are consistent or work together effectively.

- The school needs to align its lessons with the new national exams.
- The department head worked closely with the board to align the company's long-term strategy with its current financial capabilities.

### 3. to support a group

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to publicly support a person, a political group, or a country because you share their ideas.

For teachers: to identify with or support the interests of a particular group, party, or ideology.

- The small country decided to align itself with its stronger neighbours for protection.
- During the conflict, several neutral nations chose to align themselves with the international coalition to ensure regional stability.

Usage: Frequently used as a reflexive verb ('align oneself with').

### 4. computing/data

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to arrange data or code in a specific way so a computer can read it quickly.

For teachers: to store data in memory at addresses that are multiples of a specific word size to optimise processing speed.

- The software will automatically align the text blocks within the grid.
- The compiler must align the data structures to the processor's cache lines to avoid significant performance penalties during execution.

## Examples

- You need to align the text to the left side of the page.
- The engineering team must align the new software update with the existing database architecture to prevent any system crashes.
- Successful mergers require leadership to align corporate cultures and technical infrastructures, ensuring that disparate departments operate toward a unified strategic objective without friction.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.