What does comply mean?
Definitions for comply
kəmˈplaɪcom·p·ly
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word comply.
Princeton's WordNet
comply, follow, abide byverb
act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
"He complied with my instructions"; "You must comply or else!"; "Follow these simple rules"; "abide by the rules"
Wiktionary
complyverb
To yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's self; to consent or conform;
complyverb
To be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments.
complyverb
To fulfill; to accomplish.
complyverb
To infold; to embrace.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
To COMPLYverb
To yield to; to be obsequious to; to accord with; to suit with. It has with before as well persons as things.
Etymology: Stephen Skinner derives it from the French complaire; but probably it comes from complier, to bend to. Plier is still in use.
The rising sun complys with our weak sight,
First gilds the clouds, then shews his globe of light. Edmund Waller.They did servilely comply with the people in worshipping God by sensible images and representations. John Tillotson.
The truth of things will not comply with our conceits, and bend itself to our interest. John Tillotson.
Remember I am she who sav’d your life,
Your loving, lawful, and complying wife. Dryden.He made his wish with his estate comply,
Joyful to live, yet not afraid to die. Matthew Prior.
ChatGPT
comply
To comply means to act in accordance with a command, rule, request or wish. It involves following instructions, guidelines or laws and meeting a certain set of standards or requirements. It generally implies conformity and obedience.
Webster Dictionary
Complyverb
to yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's self; to consent or conform; -- usually followed by with
Complyverb
to be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments
Complyverb
to fulfill; to accomplish
Complyverb
to infold; to embrace
Etymology: [See comply, v. i.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Comply
kom-plī′, v.i. to yield to the wishes of another: to agree or consent to (with):—pr.p. comply′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. complied′.—n. Complī′er, one who complies.—p.adj. Comply′ing, compliant. [It. complire, to fulfil, to suit, to offer courtesies—L. complēre, to fulfil.]
Editors Contribution
comply
To act or behave according to a specific rule, guideline, process, procedure, standard or code.
We all are respectful of guidelines and if they require changing then that is easily achieved with understanding.
Submitted by MaryC on July 11, 2020
comply
To act or create according to the eligibility criteria, guidelines, instruction, legislation, principles, policy, standard or rules.
They do comply with the company quality management system rules.
Submitted by MaryC on February 27, 2020
Matched Categories
British National Corpus
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'comply' in Verbs Frequency: #713
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Anagrams for comply »
clompy
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of comply in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of comply in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Examples of comply in a Sentence
I am ready to comply with any decision made by parliament in that regard. But if they are not able to make any decision, I cannot abandon my responsibilities.
These companies are very sophisticated, technology-savvy companies that have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in each of them, they should be expected to comply with the same rules as a small, mom and pop rental car company located in rural Arizona.
There is nothing that would stop them from doing it, the question is what happens if the member doesn't comply ?
It’s all part of a bluff to force legislators to comply with the federal mandate.
Everything was fine and all of the sudden someone comes over to us and asks us to deplane. We did comply they and nothing to say. I kept asking what didn’t we comply with they and nothing to say.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for comply
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- الامتثالArabic
- съобразявам се, придържам се към, спазвам, изпълнявам, съгласявам сеBulgarian
- einwilligenGerman
- συμμορφώνονταιGreek
- acceder, cumplirSpanish
- myöntyä, taipua, mukautua, suostuaFinnish
- conformer, respecter, acquiescerFrench
- gèillScottish Gaelic
- נענהHebrew
- पालन करनाHindi
- konformigarIdo
- attuare, conformarsi, adattarsi, concordareItalian
- 応じる, 従う, 守るJapanese
- voldoenDutch
- assentir, concordar, cumprir, aquiescerPortuguese
- supuneRomanian
- соглаша́ться, подчиня́тьсяRussian
- tuân theoVietnamese
Get even more translations for comply »
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"comply." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 17 Mar. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/comply>.
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