comply

verb

com·​ply kəm-ˈplī How to pronounce comply (audio)
complied; complying
Synonyms of complynext

intransitive verb

1
: to conform, submit, or adapt (as to a regulation or to another's wishes) as required or requested
comply with federal law
the devices comply with industry standards
2
obsolete : to be ceremoniously courteous

Synonyms

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Examples of comply in a Sentence

I asked the waitress to refill my coffee cup and she happily complied. There will be penalties against individuals who fail to comply.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Justice Department lawyer Jane Lyons accused AP of jumping the gun in criticizing the administration’s apparent efforts to comply. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025 And while Maine's Democrat leadership refuses to comply with Trump's executive order, one school district is taking matters into its own hands and defying the state anyway. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Similarly, in a March release, the company said all potential buyers must agree to comply with its privacy policy and applicable law. —Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025 The White House has withheld federal money from several universities to pressure institutions to comply with Trump's political agenda. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for comply

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "to accommodate oneself (to), go along (with), meet the expectations (of), satisfy (obligations of courtesy)," borrowed from Spanish cumplir in this sense, from the earlier transitive senses "carry out, execute, fulfill," going back, with conjugation change, to Latin complēre "to fill" — more at complete entry 1

Note: The verb comply appears more likely to have been borrowed directly from Spanish rather than via Italian (pace the Oxford English Dictionary, first edition). Its use in literate discourse may have grown out of the vogue for Spanish romances that began with The mirrour of princely deedes and knighthood, a translation by Margaret Tyler of Diego Ortúñez de Calahorra's Espejo de príncipes y caballeros that was first printed in 1578. An early example of comply in the relevant sense occurs in another translation of Espejo, by "R.P." (Robert Parry or Parke), printed about 1586: "that the counsaile which you doe aske of your nobles & subiects, is more to complie with them, than anie good will you haue to be counsailed" (The third part of the first booke, of the Mirrour of knighthood). The form of the verb shows assimilation to other verbs ending in -ply, as apply, imply, reply entry 1, and supply entry 1 (which, excepting the last, are not etymologically related).

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of comply was in 1602

Rhymes for comply

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Browse Nearby Words

compluvium
comply
compo
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Cite this Entry

“Comply.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comply. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

comply

verb
com·​ply kəm-ˈplī How to pronounce comply (audio)
complied; complying
: to act in agreement with another's wishes or in obedience to a rule
comply with a request
complier
-ˈplī(-ə)r
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on comply

Nglish: Translation of comply for Spanish Speakers

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