comply
Americanverb (used without object)
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complies,
present (3rd person singular)
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complied,
past participle, past
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complying
present participle
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to act or be in accordance with wishes, requests, demands, requirements, conditions, etc.; agree (sometimes followed bywith ).
They asked him to leave and he complied.
She has complied with the requirements.
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Obsolete. to be courteous or conciliatory.
verb
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(usually foll by with) to act in accordance with rules, wishes, etc; be obedient (to)
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obsolete to be obedient or complaisant
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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complysimple
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compliessimple
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have compliedperfect
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has compliedperfect
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am complyingprogressive
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are complyingprogressive
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is complyingprogressive
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have been complyingperfect progressive
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has been complyingperfect progressive
Past
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compliedsimple
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had compliedperfect
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was complyingprogressive
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were complyingprogressive
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had been complyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of comply
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Italian complire, from Spanish cumplir ( see compliment) “to fulfill, accomplish,” from Latin complēre, equivalent to com- com- + plēre “to fill”
Explanation
Comply is to act according to someone's wishes or rules. Although you might like to stay out with your friends, you'll have to comply with your parents' rules and be home by midnight. Comply shares a root with the word, complete. In a way, when you comply with a rule or agreement, you are completing it, or completing your part in it. When someone is in compliance with an agreement or a legal ruling, that means that they have done everything they needed to satisfy the ruling. Comply with the rules of grammar or your English teacher will turn your paper red with ink!
Vocabulary lists containing comply
ASVAB Word Knowledge
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The Hate U Give
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"The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Refineries have to blend increasing amounts of biofuels into products or buy regulatory credits to comply with quotas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Hoskins chose to comply with the lower court judge’s order over the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
"We are demanding our rights. The prices of diesel and bread must return to what they were, and they must comply with the people's demands," said demonstrator Khansa Nehmat, 48.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
Anyone who refuses to comply could face a £70 fixed penalty notice or be prosecuted, with courts able to impose a maximum fine of £1,000.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
When Burr first demanded an apology, Hamilton refused to comply, complaining that he could not possibly be expected to recall all his remarks about Burr over a fifteen-year period of interaction.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
A spokeswoman for Kennedy said he complies with all federal ethics rules and requirements and has worked with HHS ethics officials on his disclosures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
The severe depletion of mackerel numbers has led to the fish losing its MSC certification, meaning it no longer complies with many retailers' sustainability policies.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
For its part, CiviClick notes on its website that it supports SB 1159, and said its platform already complies with what the bill proposes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Hengli has said it complies with relevant regulations in the regions where it operates, has never engaged in any trade with Iran and that its suppliers have provided similar assurances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
“The act complies with the requirements of due process of law,” the decision read.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
There was a solid two weeks when I complied with its whims.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Chinese military has always complied with international law and international practice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
When a cyclist paused and waved us forward at a mini roundabout with his arm, the car complied.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
The European Commission had also raised questions over whether the legislation complied with EU law, but Lefevre's office said those concerns had been "dispelled" and the measure was not expected to be blocked.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
Both players were required to keep a record of their moves to prove, if necessary, that they’d complied with the time limit.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
“We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Senior district administrators put the moratorium in place on their own authority in the spirit of complying with the school board’s unanimous June vote to limit student screen time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
The researchers also monitor to ensure satellite operators are complying with their licences and track foreign "adversaries".
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
The agency said its officers are trained to enforce immigration laws while protecting public safety and complying with federal law.
From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026
Youths get “positive checks” for complying with the rules, but also for using the interpersonal skills necessary to do well on the outside—skills like asking for help or talking through a conflict.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
