align
Americanverb (used with object)
-
aligns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
aligned,
past participle, past
-
aligning
present participle
-
to arrange in a straight line; adjust according to a line.
- Synonyms:
- straighten
-
to bring into a line or alignment.
- Synonyms:
- straighten
-
to bring into cooperation or agreement with a particular group, party, cause, etc..
He aligned himself with the liberals.
-
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)
-
aligns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
aligned,
past participle, past
-
aligning
present participle
-
to fall or come into line; be in line.
-
to join with others in a cause.
verb
-
to place or become placed in a line
-
to bring (components or parts, such as the wheels of a car) into proper or desirable coordination or relation
-
to bring (a person, country, etc) into agreement or cooperation with the policy, etc of another person or group
-
(tr) psychol to integrate or harmonize the aims, practices, etc of a group
-
(usually foll by with) psychol to identify with or match the behaviour, thoughts, etc of another person
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
alignsimple
-
alignssimple
-
have alignedperfect
-
has alignedperfect
-
am aligningprogressive
-
are aligningprogressive
-
is aligningprogressive
-
have been aligningperfect progressive
-
has been aligningperfect progressive
Past
-
alignedsimple
-
had alignedperfect
-
was aligningprogressive
-
were aligningprogressive
-
had been aligningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of align
First recorded in 1685–95; from French aligner, equivalent to a- “toward” + ligner, from Latin līneāre, derivative of līnea “line”; see origin at 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.
Vocabulary lists containing align
The Crossover
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Excerpt from "The Philosophy of Literary Form" by Kenneth Burke
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Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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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:
The food system in the U.S. — largely built around speed and convenience — doesn’t exactly align with home-cooked meals leisurely shared with those you love.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026
You don’t need to contort yourself to fit into someone else’s life, especially if that life doesn’t align with who you are or what you value.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
"We need multiple licences from countries, we need to get the governments to align on regulations."
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Rather, they align incentives so the moral decision is also the economically viable one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
It shifted the blame for the rupture of the friendship onto the Hamiltonians, whom he knew Adams utterly despised, then invited Adams to align himself, at least retrospectively, with the Republican side of the debate.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
It’s an album that aligns with each musician’s trademarks — characterized by Lange’s soothing electronica and Reyna’s eclectic elasticity — but an entirely unique work within their respective discographies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
She adds that while socks and sandals have become a viral fashion trend "it's important to consider whether a trend aligns with the image you want to communicate professionally".
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
This aligns with the developments in the race, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was loath to get involved in the race, jumped in to endorse Stevens late in the contest.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2026
But McElwee’s nonlinear construction and brusque, confessional narration slowly transform the film into something much deeper, a poignant work of art that instantly yet subtly aligns itself with the great stories of our time.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
I watch as she aligns her two yellow pencils.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Its fibers were also better aligned, giving the new tissue a closer resemblance to natural, healthy bone.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
President George W. Bush aligned the executive branch with Congress in affirming the modernization of the GAO as a legislative agency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Out of the more than 3,700 federal actions that have come before the coastal commission for review since the 1970s, the commission has aligned with the actions 96% of the time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
Lilly had its own struggles producing enough tirzepatide, but it quickly turned to new ideas that aligned with the way many patients were behaving — like consumers, not patients.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
She watched as the plane pulled to a stop, neatly aligned with the jetway.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
From the jump, it’s hard to shake the feeling that “Tony” is mistakenly aligning itself with the public’s idea of Bourdain rather than the man’s reality.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
The WSJ CFO & COO Council convenes the world’s top financial leaders so they can gain perspective on navigating market uncertainty, aligning priorities and making decisions that deliver measurable results.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
There are pitfalls to aligning too closely however, as Reading and Charlton Athletic have previously discovered.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
How should employers respond to Gen Z’s ethical concerns about their work having a positive impact and aligning with their social values?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Obiora placed the containers under the tap, aligning the open mouths with the rushing water.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
