Meaning of form in English

form

verb

/fɔːrm/ uk

/fɔːm/

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B2 [ I or T ]

to begin to exist or to make something begin to exist:

A crowd formed around the accident.

A solution began to form in her mind.

form an impression I formed the impression (= the way she behaved suggested to me) that she didn't really want to come.

[ T ]

to make something into a particular shape:

form something into something She formed the clay into a small bowl.

He formed his mouth into a perfect "O."

B1 [ L only + noun ]

to make or be something:

The trucks formed a barricade across the road.

Together they would form the next government.

This information formed the basis of the report.

[ I ] formal

If separate things form, they come together to make a whole:

The children formed into lines.

More examplesFewer examples

Research forms the predominant part of my job.
By forming a coalition, the rebels and the opposition parties defeated the government.
The prisoners formed a line against the wall.
A long queue had formed, snaking its way downstairs and out into the street.
A thick sheet of ice had formed over the water.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Creating and producing

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Patterns and shapes

Comprising and consisting of

Collecting and amassing

Forming groups (of people)

Grammar

Not only … but also

We use not only X but also Y in formal contexts: …

form

noun

/fɔːrm/ uk

/fɔːm/

form noun (DOCUMENT)

A2 [ C ]

a document with spaces in which answers to questions can be written or information can be recorded in an organized way:

fill in a form mainly UK Please fill in the form with black ink.

fill out a form There is a long form you have to fill out online.

complete a form When you have completed the form, hand it in at the desk.

See also

application form
claim form
consent form
entry form
order form

More examplesFewer examples

I had to fill in this really complicated form.
On his form he lists his interests as biking, the cinema and cooking.
Please write your credit card number on this form.
Take the forms into your local branch office.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Official documents

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form noun (TYPE)

B2 [ C ]

a type of something:

form of Swimming is the best form of exercise.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

a group of people or things that share similar qualities

sortWhat sort of clothes do you like to wear?
kindWhat kind of job are you looking for?
typeHe's the type of man who never listens to what you're saying.
formSwimming is the best form of exercise.
varietyThe article was about the different varieties of Spanish spoken in South America.
categoryThere are three categories of hotel room - standard, executive, and deluxe.

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More examplesFewer examples

Aerobics is one of the most stimulating forms of exercise.
Body language is a potent form of non-verbal communication.
Emma's only form of recreation seems to be shopping.
Bicycles are a cheap and efficient form of transport.
Simple forms of life have only one cell.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Categories and varieties

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form noun (SHAPE)

C1 [ C ]

the shape or appearance of something:

I could just about make out his sleeping form on the bed.

The moon highlighted the shadowy forms of the hills.

in the form of The lawn was laid out in the form of the figure eight.

take form

to gradually be seen or gradually develop:

Trees and hedges started to take form as the fog cleared.

More examplesFewer examples

She looked at Timothy's recumbent form beside her.
The song achieved a perfect unity between form and content.
The sculpture was inspired by natural forms.
He could see the form of a vehicle approaching in the distance.
The chairs were arranged in the form of circle.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Patterns and shapes

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Conditions and characteristics

form noun (ABILITY)

[ U ]

A competitor's form is their ability to be successful over a period of time:

Both horses have shown good form over the last season.

After a bad year, she has regained her form.

be in good, great, etc. form C2 US (UK be on good, great, etc. form)

to be feeling or performing well:

Paul was in good form at the wedding and kept everyone entertained.

More examplesFewer examples

After the humiliation of last week's defeat, the Mets were back on form.
She's currently experiencing a dip in form.
The team is in unbeatable form.
Ashia Hansen rediscovered her best form with a morale-boosting win in the triple jump.
He has been struggling to regain his form after a series of defeats.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Skill, talent and ability

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form noun (GRAMMAR)

B1 [ C ] language specialized

one part of a verb or other word that has a special use or meaning:

The continuous form of "stand" is "standing."

"Stood" is the irregular past tense form of "stand."

"Hers" is the possessive form of "her."

"Isn't" is the short form of "is not."

More examplesFewer examples

the genitive form of a noun
the imperative form of the verb

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Linguistics: verb forms, tenses & types of verbs

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form noun (SCHOOL GROUP)

B1 [ C ]

in the UK, a class of school children or a group of classes of children of a similar age

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Students & pupils

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form noun (BEHAVIOR)

bad form old-fashioned

rude behavior:

Was that bad form then, leaving so early?

form noun (SEAT)

[ C ] old-fashioned

a long, thin seat, usually without a back

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Chairs & seats

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Grammar

Not only … but also

We use not only X but also Y in formal contexts: …

(Definition of form from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

form | Intermediate English

form

verb

/fɔrm/

form verb (COME TOGETHER)

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[ I/T ]

to come together and make a particular order or shape:

[ + to infinitive ] A crowd formed to watch the fire.

[ T ] Please form a single line.

[ T ] The geese flying overhead formed a V-shaped pattern.

form verb (BEGIN HAVING)

[ T ]

to begin to have:

I formed the opinion that I was not really welcome there any more.

form verb (BEGIN)

[ T ]

to begin something, esp. organizing people or things:

We formed a community group to help people who are sick or disabled.

They formed a new publishing company.

form

noun

form noun (TYPE)

[ C ] us

/fɔrm/

a type or kind of something, or the particular way in which something exists:

I was always more interested in poetry than in other forms of literature.

She has a mild form of the flu and should be OK in a few days.

The medicine comes in the form of a liquid or pills.

form noun (SHAPE/APPEARANCE)

[ C ] us

/fɔrm/

the shape or appearance of something:

The stadium was in the form of a circle.

form noun (DOCUMENT)

[ C ] us

/fɔrm/

something, usually paper, that has spaces marked where you fill in information:

Fill out an application form and we will let you know if a job opens up.

form noun (ART/MUSIC)

[ C ] literature us/fɔrm/

the organization, shape, and structure of a written work

[ C ] art, music us/fɔrm/

Form in a work of art or piece of music is the design or arrangement of it that it shares with other works of the same type

form noun (BEHAVIOR)

[ U ] us

/fɔrm/

the way in which someone does something:

He was in great form and won the golf tournament by 7 strokes.

(Definition of form from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

form | Business English

form

noun [ C ]

/fɔːm/ us

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(also US blank)

a document printed with spaces in which to write answers or information:

fill in/out a form You will need to fill in form FW 20, available from your Social Security office.

You will be required to sign several forms.

See also

application form
claim form
I-9 form
order form
substance over form
tax form

form

verb

/fɔːm/ us

[ I or T ]

to create a company, organization, etc.:

form a business/company/firm They joined together to form their own garment company.

form a committee/agency/task force The council President formed the committee when the number of complaints jumped from around 50 per month to nearly 1,200.

[ T ]

to develop a successful relationship with a person, organization, or country, especially for a particular purpose:

form a coalition/partnership/alliance A regional Latino business coalition was formed to seek ways to fight the measures.

(Definition of form from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of form

form

They have formed their whole identity around her health and safety.

From NPR

This is a rare form of iron that has a half-life of 2.6 million years.

From Los Angeles Times

This mammalophilic form of the house mosquito can therefore bite in the winter as well.

From Phys.Org

This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future.

From NPR

He was in peak form in the first half, scoring 24 points.

From ESPN

The iron formed in the core of a dwarf star is fascinating, how all the particles are so tightly packed, and unbreakable.

From National Geographic

In parliamentary systems, coalitions of parties can form governments.

From Slate Magazine

Driving between islands formed by the seasonal floodwaters in pursuit of the wild dogs.

From National Geographic

For me the call to love takes the form of service to those in need, prayer, and, above all, loving friendship.

From The Atlantic

Do you he restores distorted so it would be back to its original form.

From ABC News

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

Collocations with form

form

These are words often used in combination with form.

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abbreviated form

Broadcasting directly to a personal pager again requires natural language, but in a far more abbreviated form to allow for a pager's limited message length.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

abstract form

Elementary pattern matching may therefore be recast in abstract form, with a semantics given by translation.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

acceptable form

I'd love to create a form, an acceptable form, where people can sing and talk and it can be drama and music.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

See all collocations with form

What is the pronunciation of form?