align
Americanverb (used with object)
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to arrange in a straight line; adjust according to a line.
- Synonyms:
- straighten
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to bring into a line or alignment.
- Synonyms:
- straighten
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to bring into cooperation or agreement with a particular group, party, cause, etc..
He aligned himself with the liberals.
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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)
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to fall or come into line; be in line.
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to join with others in a cause.
verb
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to place or become placed in a line
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to bring (components or parts, such as the wheels of a car) into proper or desirable coordination or relation
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to bring (a person, country, etc) into agreement or cooperation with the policy, etc of another person or group
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(tr) psychol to integrate or harmonize the aims, practices, etc of a group
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(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
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alignsimple
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alignssimple
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have alignedperfect
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has alignedperfect
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am aligningprogressive
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are aligningprogressive
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is aligningprogressive
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have been aligningperfect progressive
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has been aligningperfect progressive
Past
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alignedsimple
-
had alignedperfect
-
was aligningprogressive
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were aligningprogressive
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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.
When those factors align, perhaps late this year or into 2027, “gold could have the legs to run,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
Takaichi, in fact, vowed to align Bank of Japan policy with government objectives to boost growth and investment in her first “economic blueprint” on Tuesday, effectively leaving currency intervention up to the Ministry of Finance.
From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026
The new security measures align the Hollywood attraction with Universal Studios’ other venues, according to the spokesperson.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
Similar to FedEx, FedEx Freight is shifting its fiscal year to align with the calendar year, switching the end of its fiscal year to Dec. 31 from May 31.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026
Just as she would never align a pine needle with the leaf of a cottonwood tree, she would never put the jars of tomatoes next to the green beans.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
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.
