English Reference
Verb

complying

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /kəmˈpɫaɪɪŋ/ UK /kəmplˈaɪɪŋ/ com·ply·ing

v.following a rule, order, or law. You use this when someone does what they are officially told to do.

v.acting in accordance with a wish, command, or set of rules. Present participle of 'comply'; typically describes the state of adherence to regulatory or legal standards.


SIMPLE

The company is complying with the new safety laws.

CONTEXTUAL

By complying with the environmental regulations, the factory avoided a heavy fine from the local government.

COMPLEX

The audit revealed that while the firm was complying with the letter of the law, it was failing to meet the broader ethical standards expected by its shareholders.

Usage

Intransitive; almost always followed by the preposition 'with'.

Pitfall
complying to the rulescomplying with the rules

The verb 'comply' and its forms require the preposition 'with', not 'to'.

The DfE’s thinking has been influenced by the results of a pilot exercise in 2022/23 in which EHOs in 18 council areas checked whether schools were complying with the rules.

The Guardian· 3 Sept 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated