comply

[ kuhm-plahy ]

/ kəmˈplaɪ /

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See synonyms for: comply / complied / complies / complying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), com·plied, com·ply·ing.

to act or be in accordance with wishes, requests, demands, requirements, conditions, etc.; agree (sometimes followed by with): They asked him to leave and he complied. She has complied with the requirements.

Obsolete. to be courteous or conciliatory.

OTHER WORDS FOR comply

1 acquiesce, yield, conform, obey, consent, assent.

See synonyms for comply on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR comply

1 refuse, resist.

See antonyms for comply on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of comply

1595–1605; <Italian complire<Spanish cumplir (see compliment) to fulfill, accomplish <Latin complēre, equivalent to com-com- + plē-fill + -re infinitive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM comply

un·com·ply·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use comply in a sentence

Robust contact tracing systems work only if people comply with public health officials and share their contact history or quarantine if necessary.
Coronavirus cases are skyrocketing. Here’s what it will take to gain control|Tina Hesman Saey|November 11, 2020|Science News
Recent changes in state law will allow civil — not just criminal — penalties for those who don’t comply with the statewide mask order, but Northam said he prefers to emphasize “mitigations” and changing behavior through a marketing campaign.
Maryland governor adds coronavirus restrictions as cases surge across the Washington region|Rebecca Tan, Erin Cox, Patricia Sullivan|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
“These individuals will also conduct various aspects of inspections and reviews of whether or not various actions are complied with and requirements are met,” Samarasinghe said.
Metro’s plans to correct safety deficiencies in its rail operations center sent back for more work|Justin George|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
Jayanth Kolla, chief analyst at consultancy firm Convergence Catalyst, told TechCrunch that by having more cloud regions in India, it will be easier for Amazon to comply with the nation’s data localization policy.
Amazon to invest $2.8 billion to build its second data center region in India|Manish Singh|November 6, 2020|TechCrunch

Downstream vendors too must comply with those data subject requests.
Prop 24 — the California Privacy Rights and Enforcement Act — passed by voters. Here’s what publishers need know|Lara O'Reilly|November 5, 2020|Digiday
Peters again complies, stepping aside and raising both hands.
Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill|Michael Daly|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
FBI spokesman Paul Bresson said that the bureau fully complies with U.S. policy as it relates to ransom payments.
A 26-Year-Old Woman Is ISIS’s Last American Hostage|Shane Harris|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She has simply stood and watched, and once instructed to enter the boat, she complies.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq|Nathan Bradley Bethea|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Irritably, he complies, but when the stewardess moves on, he reclines the chair again, muttering balefully under his breath.
Stacks: Hitting the Note with the Allman Brothers Band|Grover Lewis|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When a country goes to war, the population is expected to unify, and usually largely complies.
Refusing the Elections War|Sarah Anne Minkin|November 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
If the venerable elder brother charitably complies, the matter ends with: "Thanks, brother!"
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 451|Various
Beethoven complies with the request by sending him a canon written while taking a walk on May 11.
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume III (of 3)|Alexander Wheelock Thayer
Thus they commonly affect no man any further than he deserts his reason, or complies with their aberrancies.
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne (Volume 1 of 3)|Thomas Browne
In case a State complies with these requirements, no blame falls upon it on account of such injurious acts.
International Law. A Treatise. Volume I (of 2)|Lassa Francis Oppenheim
The angel kindly complies in the seventh book, which is merely an amplification of the first chapter of Genesis.
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 22, No. 3, September 1843|Various

British Dictionary definitions for comply

comply

/ (kəmˈplaɪ) /

verb -plies, -plying or -plied (intr)

(usually foll by with) to act in accordance with rules, wishes, etc; be obedient (to)

obsolete to be obedient or complaisant

Derived forms of comply

complier, noun

Word Origin for comply

C17: from Italian complire, from Spanish cumplir to complete; see compliment

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

comply

OTHER WORDS FOR comply

OPPOSITES FOR comply

Origin of comply

OTHER WORDS FROM comply

Words related to comply

How to use comply in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for comply

Derived forms of comply

Word Origin for comply