Definition of form verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

form

verb

/fɔːm/

/fɔːrm/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they form	/fɔːm/ /fɔːrm/
he / she / it forms	/fɔːmz/ /fɔːrmz/
past simple formed	/fɔːmd/ /fɔːrmd/
past participle formed	/fɔːmd/ /fɔːrmd/
-ing form forming	/ˈfɔːmɪŋ/ /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/

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make shape/form

[transitive] to produce something in a particular way or make it have a particular shape

form something Bend the wire so that it forms a ‘V’.
Rearrange the letters to form a new word.
Games can help children learn to form letters.
Do you know how to form the past tense?
form something into something Form the dough into balls with your hands.
be formed from something The chain is formed from 136 links.
be formed of something The table was formed of two large slabs of stone.

Topics Languagea1

Oxford Collocations Dictionarypreposition

into

phrases

fully formed
perfectly formed

See full entry

[transitive, intransitive] to move or arrange objects or people so that they are in a group with a particular shape; to become arranged in a group like this

form (somebody/something) First get students to form groups of four.
to form a line/queue/circle
Queues were already forming outside the theatre.
form up into something The teams formed up into lines.
form into something Everyone formed into a circle.
be formed (up) into something The regiment was formed into ranks on a nearby lane.

Oxford Collocations Dictionarypreposition

into

phrases

fully formed
perfectly formed

See full entry

start to exist

[intransitive, transitive] (especially of natural things) to begin to exist and gradually develop into a particular shape; to make something begin to exist in a particular shape

Flowers appeared, but fruits failed to form.
Storm clouds are forming on the horizon.
be formed (by something) These hills were formed by glaciation.
a perfectly formed body

[intransitive, transitive] to start to exist and develop; to make something start to exist and develop

A plan formed in my head.
form something to form a relationship/bond/partnership with somebody/something
I formed many close friendships at college.
People can and do form emotional bonds with cats and dogs.
I didn't see enough of the play to form an opinion about it.
I formed the view that the only option was to cancel the project.
The plan came in a flash of inspiration, fully formed.

Synonyms makemakedo ▪ create ▪ develop ▪ produce ▪ generate ▪ formThese words all mean to make something from parts or materials, or to cause something to exist or happen.make to create or prepare something by combining materials or putting parts together; to cause something to exist or happen:

She makes her own clothes.
She made a good impression on the interviewer.

do (rather informal) to make or prepare something, especially something artistic or something to eat:

He did a beautiful drawing of a house.
Who’s doing the food for the party?

create to make something exist or happen, especially something new that did not exist before:

Scientists disagree about how the universe was created.

make or create?Make is a more general word and is more often used for physical things: you would usually make a table/dress/cake but create jobs/wealth. You can use create for something physical in order to emphasize how original or unusual the object is: Try this new dish, created by our head chef. develop (used especially in business contexts) to think of and produce a new product:

to develop new software

produce to make things to be sold; to create something using skill:

a factory that produces microchips

generate to produce or create something, especially power, money or ideas:

to generate electricity
Brainstorming is a good way of generating ideas.

form [often passive] to make something from something else; to make something into something else:

Rearrange the letters to form a new word.
The chain is formed from 136 links.

Patterns

to make/create/develop/produce/generate/form something from/out of something
to make/form something into something
to make/produce wine
to create/develop a new product
to create/produce/generate income/profits/wealth
to produce/generate electricity/heat/power

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + form

attempt to
try to
agree to
…

phrases

newly formed
recently formed

See full entry

organization

[transitive, intransitive] to start a group of people, such as an organization, a committee, etc.; to come together in a group of this kind

form something They hope to form the new government.
to form an alliance/a coalition/a committee
He formed a band with some friends from school.
a newly formed political party
I decided to form my own company.
The band formed in 2017.

Willing volunteers formed teams of helpers to carry everything in.
On September 27 a new coalition administration was formed.
Some of the insects will leave to form a new colony.
The anarchists started to form volunteer militias.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + form

attempt to
try to
agree to
…

phrases

newly formed
recently formed

See full entry

have function/role

linking verb + noun to be something; to have a particular function or pattern

The castle forms the focal point of the city.
The survey formed part of a larger programme of research.
These drawings will form the basis of the exhibition.
This family forms the core of the film.
The trees form a natural protection from the sun's rays.

have influence on

[transitive] form something to have an influence on the way that something develops synonym mould

Positive and negative experiences form a child's character.

Extra Examples

His outspoken remarks undoubtedly helped form popular opinion on the issue.
No other work of fiction has had such an influence in forming public attitudes.

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French forme (noun), fo(u)rmer (verb, from Latin formare ‘to form’), both based on Latin forma ‘a mould or form’.

See form in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee form in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: form

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Idioms

Nearby words

alloy

noun

From the Topic

Physics and chemistry

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