align

American  

[uh-lahyn] / əˈlaɪn /

Rarely aline

verb (used with object)

1. to arrange in a straight line; adjust according to a line.

   Synonyms:

   straighten

2. to bring into a line or alignment.

   Synonyms:

   straighten

3. to bring into cooperation or agreement with a particular group, party, cause, etc..

   He aligned himself with the liberals.

4. to adjust (two or more components of an electronic circuit) to improve the response over a frequency band, as to align the tuned circuits of a radio receiver for proper tracking throughout its frequency range, or a television receiver for appropriate wide-band responses.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to fall or come into line; be in line.

2. to join with others in a cause.

align British  

/ əˈlaɪn /

verb

1. to place or become placed in a line

2. to bring (components or parts, such as the wheels of a car) into proper or desirable coordination or relation

3. to bring (a person, country, etc) into agreement or cooperation with the policy, etc of another person or group

4. (tr) psychol to integrate or harmonize the aims, practices, etc of a group

5. (usually foll by with) psychol to identify with or match the behaviour, thoughts, etc of another person

---

Other Word Forms

• aligner noun
• realign verb
• self-aligning adjective

Etymology

Origin of align

First recorded in 1685–95; from French aligner, equivalent to a- “toward” + ligner, from Latin līneāre, derivative of līnea “line”; a- ⁵, line ¹

Explanation

To align means to bring something into a straight line, or an easy agreement. If you always park on an angle and people are leaving mean notes on your windshield, learn to align the car with the parking space. Align comes from the French a, meaning "to" and ligne meaning "line," and it means to bring something into line with something else. This can be literal. If you are hanging a painting, you'll want to align it with the window frame. The line can also be metaphorical. If you run for office, your political opinions will need to be aligned with those of your supporters.

Example Sentences

The findings align with what is seen in other complex human traits and in animal studies.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Michael Vermeer, a physical scientist at Rand Corporation, said that we have not yet figured out how to align models to human values, yet we are “deploying them as highly capable agents.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

West's then wife, Kim Kardashian, addressed his comments and his bipolar disorder, saying: "Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words sometimes do not align with his intentions."

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Simril said with the World Cup, Super Bowl and Olympic Games coming to Los Angeles over the next two years, “We have a generational opportunity to align the biggest moment in sports.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The walls here are completely mirrored, each long mirror placed to align with the striped ceiling visible above and the floor that is painted to match.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• adjust
• coordinate
• regulate