align
verb
ə-ˈlīn 
variants or less commonly aline
aligned also alined; aligning also alining; aligns also alines
transitive verb
1
: to bring into line or alignment
aligned the books on the shelf
2
: to array on the side of or against a party or cause
He aligned himself with the protesters.
intransitive verb
1
: to get or fall into line
He aligned with his friends against a common enemy.
2
: to be in or come into precise adjustment or correct relative position
Negative ends of molecules align with positive ends of other molecules.
aligner noun
Example Sentences
He aligned the two holes so he could put the screw through them. The two parts of the machine are not properly aligned. The text aligns with the bottom of the picture. The schools had to align their programs with state requirements. She is aligning with other senators to oppose his nomination.
Recent Examples on the Web In his campaign appearances, O’Rourke is emphasizing another area in which some of his views align with the majority of Texans’: gun restrictions. 
Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022 But that board is now made up of a majority of appointees from DeSantis, whose views usually align with the department. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Margot Mendelson, legal director for the advocacy nonprofit Prison Law Office, said AB 2632 would strengthen accountability in California’s corrections facilities and better align the state with its criminal justice reform values. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Monkeypox has spread to nearly every Chicago community, and the areas hardest hit align closely with the areas seeing the most vaccinations, Arwady said. Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 First, align development budgets with the biggest needs: transitions, readiness and retention. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 The shareholders’ interests align with those of unsecured creditors, who are already represented by an official committee in the bankruptcy case, the judge said. Soma Biswas, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 California’s isolation recommendations, posted online Thursday and discussed by state Public Health Officer Dr. Tómas Aragón on Friday, mostly align with those issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Aug. 2022 Articulating a vision of your future self helps align everyone around a common goal. Erik Oberholtzer, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2022 See More
Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022 But that board is now made up of a majority of appointees from DeSantis, whose views usually align with the department. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Margot Mendelson, legal director for the advocacy nonprofit Prison Law Office, said AB 2632 would strengthen accountability in California’s corrections facilities and better align the state with its criminal justice reform values. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Monkeypox has spread to nearly every Chicago community, and the areas hardest hit align closely with the areas seeing the most vaccinations, Arwady said. Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 First, align development budgets with the biggest needs: transitions, readiness and retention. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 The shareholders’ interests align with those of unsecured creditors, who are already represented by an official committee in the bankruptcy case, the judge said. Soma Biswas, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 California’s isolation recommendations, posted online Thursday and discussed by state Public Health Officer Dr. Tómas Aragón on Friday, mostly align with those issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Aug. 2022 Articulating a vision of your future self helps align everyone around a common goal. Erik Oberholtzer, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French aligner, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + ligne line, from Latin linea
First Known Use
circa 1693, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing align
Kids Definition
align
verb
ə-ˈlīn
aligned; aligning
: to arrange things so that they form a line or are in proper position
He aligned the two holes so he could put the screw through them.
aligns
verb
variants also alines
1
as in agrees
to bring to or be in a state of agreement Though we have our differences, we align on many issues. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- agrees
- corresponds
- coincides
- balances
- conforms
- organizes
- sorts
- arranges
- comports
- accords
- checks
- connects
- accommodates
- coordinates
- unites
- adapts
- integrates
- reconciles
- tallies
- harmonizes
- correlates
- combines
- rhymes
- squares
- equalizes
- standardizes
- chords
- merges
- proportions
- fits
- rimes
- attunes
- orders
- goes
- blends
- systematizes
- keys
- synthesizes
- matches
- arrays
- jibes
- suits
- regularizes
- evens
- joins
- pairs
- synchronizes
- unifies
- tunes
- orchestrates
- dovetails
- conciliates
- matches
- fuses
- parallels
- squares
- equals
- registers
- lines up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disrupts
- disorders
- contradicts
- skews
- disorders
- confuses
- disturbs
- alienates
- upsets
- deranges
- disarranges
- disorganizes
- upsets
- estranges
- negates
- nullifies
- disharmonizes
- messes (up)
- conflicts
- disarrays
- disputes
- rumples
- disarrays
- differs (from)
- clashes
- musses (up)
- jars
- gainsays
- disagrees (with)
2
as in lines
to set in order Make sure your quilting squares are aligned and pinned before sewing. She was waiting for the stars to align. Synonyms & Similar Words
- lines
- places
- cues
- prioritizes
- sets
- arranges
- queues
- organizes
- sequences
- balances
- emplaces
- lines up
- displays
- files
- classifies
- alphabetizes
- disposes
- codifies
- standardizes
- equalizes
- sets out
- systematizes
- unscrambles
- regularizes
- hierarchizes
- evens
- proportions
- ranges
- orders
- lays out
- grooms
- arrays
- maps (out)
- marshals
- draws up
- makes up
- marshalls
- tidies (up)
- straightens (up)
- spruces (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disorders
- upsets
- deranges
- disarranges
- rumples
- messes (up)
- musses (up)
- disarrays
- misaligns