# comply

/kəmˈpɫaɪ/ (US) · /kəmplˈaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/comply
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to follow rules

verb · CEFR B2

to obey a rule, a law, or a formal request.

For teachers: to act in accordance with a command, set of rules, or legal requirements. Intransitive, typically followed by the preposition 'with'.

- 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.

### 2. to fulfill or accomplish

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to finish or complete a task or a promise.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- All staff must comply with the new safety rules.
- The factory had to install new filters to comply with the latest environmental laws.
- Failure to comply with the terms of the contract may result in immediate termination of the agreement and legal action to recover lost assets.

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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.