form
fawm
Form (noun) means the shape or visible structure of something. Example: “The sculpture took the form of a giant bird.”
noun
1
The shape or visible structure of something.
"The sculpture took the form of a giant bird."
"In the dim light, I could just make out a tall form near the door."
"The dancer's graceful form held the whole audience's attention."
2
A document with blank spaces to be filled in with information.
"Please fill out the application form in black ink."
"You must sign the form and hand it in at reception."
"I filled in an online form to renew my library card."
3
A type or kind of something.
"Yoga is a form of exercise that also reduces stress."
"Laughter is a form of medicine, my grandmother used to say."
"Cycling is one form of transport that has grown popular in cities."
verb
1
To create or bring something into existence.
"The company was formed in 1998 by two college friends."
"Clouds form when warm air rises and cools."
"The children formed a long line outside the classroom door."
How to use form
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan mean shape, a paper document to fill in, a type/variety of something, or the act of creating something.
Common pairings
fill out a form
take form
form an opinion
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Word forms
- Plural
- forms
- Third person singular
- forms
- Past tense
- formed
- Archaic forms
- formest, formedst, formeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The sculpture took the _____ of a giant bird.
Etymology
From Old French forme, from Latin fōrma ("shape, figure, mold").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for form
See all rhymes for form →Frequently asked questions
What does “form” mean?
The word “form” means the shape or visible structure of something. In plain terms, can mean shape, a paper document to fill in, a type/variety of something, or the act of creating something.
How do you pronounce “form”?
“Form” is pronounced fawm (/fɔɹm/ in IPA).
How do you use “form” in a sentence?
Here is “form” used in a sentence: “The sculpture took the form of a giant bird.”
What is another word for “form”?
Words with a similar meaning to “form” include makeup, f., transmogrify, take shape, make up and forshape.
What is the opposite of “form”?
The opposite of “form” — its antonyms — are deform, distort, disfigure, misshape and wrest.
What part of speech is “form”?
Depending on how it is used, “form” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “form” come from?
The word “form” comes from Latin. From Old French forme, from Latin fōrma ("shape, figure, mold").
Is “form” a common word?
“Form” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between form and shape?
Shape is the outline or external boundary of something — often thought of as flat and two-dimensional, like a circle or a heart. Form is fuller, taking in three-dimensional structure, mass and volume, as in the human form. In art, shape is a flat area while form suggests solid depth. Every form has a shape.
What is the difference between form and structure?
Form is the outward shape and visible appearance of something — what it looks like from outside. Structure is how it is built or arranged internally — the parts and how they fit together. Two buildings can share a form yet have a very different structure holding them up.
What is an example of 'form' in this sense?
Form refers to visible shape or structure: 'the human form,' 'a bottle in the form of a heart,' or 'clouds constantly changing form.' It describes how something appears to the eye — its overall outline, mass and configuration — rather than what it is made of or what it does.
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