form
form
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "form" is /fɔːrm/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
/fɔːrm/ - There is only one syllable in "form."
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/ɔː/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "thought" or "north")
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: form
Plural: forms
Verb:
Base: form
Third-person singular present: forms
Present participle: forming
Past tense: formed
Past participle: formed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A specific structure, shape, or appearance of something.
Example: The sculptor carefully crafted the clay into a human form.
Synonyms: shape, configuration, structure, outline, figure
Antonyms: shapelessness, amorphousness, disarray
A type or kind of something; a particular manifestation or embodiment.
Example: Running is a challenging form of exercise.
Synonyms: type, kind, sort, variety, genre, category
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; implies a lack of specific classification)
A document with blank spaces to be filled in with information.
Example: Please fill out the application form completely.
Synonyms: document, paper, questionnaire, blank
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; implies the absence of such a document)
The manner or method in which something is done or performed; a conventional procedure.
Example: He followed the correct form for formal introductions.
Synonyms: procedure, method, manner, protocol, etiquette, convention
Antonyms: informality, unconventionality, impropriety
Verb
To give shape or structure to something; to create or construct.
Example: The children liked to form shapes with their playdough.
Synonyms: create, make, fashion, mold, shape, construct, build
Antonyms: dismantle, destroy, deconstruct, break (up)
To come into existence or develop; to take on a particular shape or character.
Example: Clouds began to form in the sky.
Synonyms: develop, emerge, appear, materialize, coalesce
Antonyms: dissipate, dissolve, disappear, vanish
To constitute or make up something; to be a part of.
Example: These individual paragraphs form the main body of the essay.
Synonyms: constitute, comprise, compose, make up, represent
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; implies a lack of contribution or inclusion)
To establish or organize something.
Example: They decided to form a new committee.
Synonyms: establish, organize, found, set up, institute
Antonyms: disband, dissolve, disestablish, break up
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice) - Here, "form" isn't explicitly used, but the concept of "form" is inherent in the structure and social norms of the time the novel portrays. For a direct example, consider: "He struggled to form the words, his throat tight with emotion." (Example of usage in a novel, common literary device).
"In its purest form, the scientific method relies on observation and experimentation." (From a hypothetical non-fiction science book).
Newspapers:
"The government is urging citizens to form a united front against corruption." (Headline from The Daily Nation, Kenya, current events).
"New regulations will take form next month, impacting small businesses." (The Standard, Kenya, business news).
Online Publications:
"How to form healthy habits that stick, according to a psychologist." (Article title on Psychology Today or a similar health and wellness website).
"The digital form of currency continues to evolve rapidly." (From an article on TechCrunch or Wired about cryptocurrency).
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: "He took the form of a dragon." (Dialogue from a fantasy film, e.g., Game of Thrones or a similar series).
Music: "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." (The Rolling Stones, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - While not using "form," the song's structure and lyrical progression form a narrative.) For a direct example: "The band's new album takes a more experimental form." (Music review on Pitchfork or Rolling Stone).
Video Games: "Complete the entry form to register for the tournament." (In-game text prompt in a sports or esports video game).
Social Media: "What's your favorite form of self-care?" (A poll question on Instagram or Twitter). "Just saw an amazing cloud form into a perfect heart shape!" (User post on Facebook or X/Twitter).
General Public Discourse:
"Please fill out this form before your appointment." (Spoken by a receptionist at a doctor's office).
"We need to form a plan to address this issue." (Said during a community meeting or discussion).
"His physical form has improved significantly since he started training." (Conversation between sports enthusiasts).
"I prefer the written form of communication for important matters." (Discussing communication preferences).
10 Famous Quotes Using Form
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." (Will Durant, paraphrasing Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics) - This quote, while not using "form" directly, speaks to how actions form character.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates) - The process of examination helps form one's understanding.
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." (Lao Tzu) - Nature's processes form all things over time.
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." (Peter Drucker) - To create is to form.
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." (Pablo Picasso) - Art often takes a visual form.
"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) - Application and doing form experience and results.
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." (Thomas A. Edison) - Each attempt helps to form a better understanding of the problem.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution." (Albert Einstein) - Imagination allows us to form new ideas and concepts.
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." (Steve Jobs) - Passion helps to form dedication and excellence.
"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." (Sun Tzu, The Art of War) - This strategy represents a particular form of conflict resolution.
Etymology
The word "form" has a long and interesting history, stretching back through different languages.
Think of it like this: Imagine you're shaping clay. That act of giving it a specific appearance or structure is at the very heart of "form."
The word "form" in English comes from Middle English "forme" or "fourme." This was borrowed from Old French "forme," which in turn came directly from the Latin word "fōrma."
The original meaning of that Latin "fōrma" was quite broad, covering ideas like:
Shape, figure, or outline: Like the physical shape of a person or an object.
Image or appearance: How something looks.
A mold or pattern: Something used to give shape to other things.
Manner, sort, or kind: A particular way something is or a category it belongs to.
So, when "form" first started appearing in English around the 13th century (around the 1200s), it was already carrying these meanings of "shape, figure, or appearance," and also "a proper way of doing something" or "an established procedure." Over time, the word expanded to include all the different meanings we use today, from a document to a class at school.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Form
In good form: Feeling well, performing well.
In rare form: Acting in an unusual or exceptionally characteristic (often humorous or eccentric) way.
To form an opinion: To develop a belief or judgment.
To take a definite form: To become clear, distinct, or structured.
To be in fine form: Similar to "in good form," indicating excellent condition or performance.
To form a bond: To establish a close connection or relationship.
To form a habit: To develop a regular practice or tendency.
Out of form: Not performing well; not in one's usual good condition.
To fill out a form: To complete a document with required information.
To form a queue/line: To arrange oneself in a row.
A mere formality: Something done only to satisfy rules or customs, often without real importance.
To be a form of art: To consider something to have artistic merit or expression.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of form from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
