MEANING
To act according to a request, rule, command, or requirement.
Use it for
Describe obedience without implying willing agreement.Show a character accepting or yielding to a rule or demand.
Words that belong together
- comply with a rule
- comply with a request
- comply fully
On the page
The guard complied with the request to open the gate.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- comply
- Past tense
- complied
- Past participle
- complied
- Present participle
- complying
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- comply
- Present continuous
- am/is/are complying
- Present perfect
- have/has complied
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been complying
- Past
- complied
- Past continuous
- was/were complying
- Past perfect
- had complied
- Past perfect continuous
- had been complying
- Future
- will comply
- Future continuous
- will be complying
- Future perfect
- will have complied
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been complying
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Usually takes “with” before the rule or demand; comply suggests submission to an external requirement.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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