# conform

/kənˈfɔɹm/ (US) · /kənfˈɔːm/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to follow social norms

verb · CEFR B2

to behave in the same way as most other people in a group or society.

For teachers: to behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards. Often used intransitively.

- At that school, students are expected to conform to a strict dress code.
- Pressure to conform to peer expectations can often lead teenagers to suppress their individual interests in favour of group harmony.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'to'.

### 2. to meet a standard or rule

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic · Formal

to obey a rule, law, or official requirement.

For teachers: to comply with a specification, regulation, or legal requirement.

- The new building must conform to all safety regulations.
- The manufacturer ensured that every component would conform to international quality standards before the product was shipped to global markets.

Usage: Commonly used with 'to' or 'with'.

### 3. to match in shape or nature

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to be similar to something else in form or character.

For teachers: to be similar in form or character; to be in agreement or harmony with a physical or abstract pattern.

- The kitchen cabinets were designed to conform to the curve of the wall.
- The results of the second experiment did not conform to the patterns observed in the initial pilot study, suggesting a flaw in the hypothesis.

Usage: Often used in technical or philosophical contexts.

## Examples

- Students must conform to the school dress code.
- New employees often conform to office culture by adopting the same communication style as their colleagues.
- The architect chose to conform to the historic district's guidelines, ensuring the new building harmonized with the surrounding Victorian facades rather than standing out.

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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.