Word
comply
Phoneticscom·ply, stress on the second syllable
US/kəmˈpɫaɪ/
UK/kəmplˈaɪ/
Definitions
01to follow rules
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to obey a rule, a law, or a formal request.
v. to act in accordance with a command, set of rules, or legal requirements. Intransitive, typically followed by the preposition 'with'.
日本語:順守する※
“All visitors must comply with the hospital's safety rules while inside.”
“Failure to comply with the updated environmental regulations could result in significant fines for the manufacturing plant.”
Usage
Always used with the preposition 'with' before the rule or requirement being followed.
Pitfall
The company must comply the new safety laws.
The company must comply with the new safety laws.
You cannot use 'comply' directly with an object; you must use the preposition 'with'.
02to fulfill or accomplish
C2 · Proficiency Archaic
v. to finish or complete a task or a promise.
v. to bring to completion or to fulfill a requirement or prophecy.
“The knight sought to comply his vow to the king.”
“The ancient prophecy was finally complied when the two kingdoms were united under a single banner.”
Teaching tip
This sense is archaic and rarely found in modern speech; learners will primarily encounter it in pre-20th-century literature.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “comply” in context.
Verb
01. comply with a request
“The hospital was happy to comply with the patient's request for a private room.”
verb + prep + noun
02. comply with the regulations
“All new buildings must strictly comply with the latest fire safety regulations.”
verb + prep + noun
03. fail to comply
“The company was heavily fined after they failed to comply with the new environmental regulations.”
verb + infinitive
04. refuse to comply
“Several protesters were arrested when they refused to comply with the officer's orders to disperse.”
verb + infinitive
Noun
05. failure to comply
“Failure to comply with the terms of the contract may lead to immediate termination.”
noun + infinitive
06. obligation to comply
“The legal department reminded the staff of their obligation to comply with the non-disclosure agreement.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
07. fully comply
“We are working hard to ensure that our software fully complies with international privacy standards.”
adv + verb
08. strictly comply
“Athletes must strictly comply with the anti-doping code to remain eligible for the competition.”
adv + verb
09. voluntarily comply
“Most citizens voluntarily complied with the temporary curfew to help maintain public order.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Cabify, Bolt and Uber for example all have to comply with set VTC regulations, which stands for Vehículos de Transporte con Conductor or Vehicles for Transport with a Driver.” “They have also said they would comply with government restrictions.” Etymology
From Italian complire, Catalan complir (“to complete, fulfil; to carry out”), Spanish cumplir (“to complete, fulfil”), (alternatively from Old French compli), from Latin complēre, from compleō (“to finish, complete; to fulfil”), from com- (prefix indicating completeness of an act) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm (“beside, near; by, with”)) + pleō (“to fill; to fulfil”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pleh₁- (“to fill”)). The word is very close to the French verb complaire which means to satisfy or to please. The word is also cognate with Old French complir (“to accomplish, complete; to do”) (modern French accomplir (“to accomplish, achieve”)). Compare complete, compliment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/comply
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0