form

noun

OPAL WOPAL S

/fɔːm/

/fɔːrm/

Idioms

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type

[countable] a type or variety of something

all the millions of different life forms on the planet today
form of something forms of transport/government/entertainment
one of the most common forms of cancer
Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise.
Along with talking and singing, drawing must be the oldest form of communication.

of word

[countable] a way of writing or saying a word that shows, for example, if it is plural or in a particular tense

the infinitive form of the verb

see also base form, bound form, canonical form, combining form, free form, pro-formTopics Languagea1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

common
different
various
…

verb + form

take
give

preposition

in… form
in the form of
form of
…

phrases

in any shape or form
in some form or other

See full entry

way something is/looks

[countable, uncountable] the particular way something is, seems, looks or is presented

The disease can take several different forms.
The training programme takes the form of a series of workshops.
We need to come to some form of agreement.
in the form of somebody/something Help in the form of money will be very welcome.
Help arrived in the form of two police officers.
in… form Most political questions involve morality in some form or other.
We prefer applications in electronic form.
Many collections of his cartoons appeared in book form.
Success can come in many forms.
I'm opposed to censorship in any shape or form.

Extra Examples

The document was edited before being circulated in its final form.
The results of the survey are shown below in tabular form.
These costs were passed on to the tenants in the form of higher rents.
The company will not tolerate discrimination in any shape or form.
The data is stored in digital form.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

common
different
various
…

verb + form

take
give

preposition

in… form
in the form of
form of
…

phrases

in any shape or form
in some form or other

See full entry

document

[countable] an official document containing questions and spaces for answers

an application/entry/order form
(especially British English) to fill in a form
(especially North American English) to fill out a form
I filled in/out a form on their website.
to complete a form
We asked them to read and sign consent forms.
(British English) a booking form
(North American English) a reservation form

see also 1040 form, I-9 form, order form, W-2 form

Extra Examples

Please complete the application form and return it to us.
Please fill out the online form on our website.
Do you have your booking form?
I had to fill in several order forms.
The form asks for details of all previous addresses.
There were a lot of official forms to fill out.
This is a standard form sent to all applicants.
It was a long and complicated form.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

application
booking
consent
…

verb + form

complete
fill in
fill out
…

See full entry

shape

[countable] the shape of somebody/something; a person or thing of which only the shape can be seen

The human form has changed little over the last 30 000 years.
Two weeks later the moth will emerge in its adult form.
They made out a shadowy form in front of them.

Extra Examples

a god who could take on human form
a mythical creature that could change its form
Her slender form and graceful movements entranced him.

Topics Colours and Shapesb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

human
adult
sleeping
…

verb + form

alter
change
assume
…

preposition

in a/the form

See full entry

arrangement of parts

[uncountable] the arrangement of parts in a whole, especially in a work of art or piece of writing

Shape and form are of greater importance to me than colour.
In a novel, form and content are equally important.

Synonyms structurestructure

framework
form
composition
construction
fabric

These are all words for the way the different parts of something combine together or the way that something has been made.

structure
the way in which the parts of something are connected together or arranged; a particular arrangement of parts:
- the structure of the building/human body
- the social structure of society
- the grammatical structures of a language
- a salary structure
framework
a set of beliefs, ideas or rules that forms the basis of a system or society:
- The report provides a framework for further research.
form
[U] the arrangement of parts in a whole, especially in a work of art or piece of writing:
- As a photographer, shape and form were more important to him than colour.
composition
[U] (rather formal) the different parts or people that combine to form something; the way in which they combine:
- recent changes in the composition of the workforce
construction
[U] the way that something has been built or made:
- ships of steel construction
fabric
(rather formal) the basic structure of a society or an organization that enables it to function successfully:
- This is a trend which threatens the very fabric of society.

Patterns

the basic structure/framework/form/composition/construction/fabric of something
a simple/complex structure/framework/form
the economic/political/social structure/framework/composition/fabric of something
the chemical/genetic structure/composition of something

Extra Examples

Henry James is considered to be a master of literary form.
The form of the poem is of great significance.
What is the relationship between form and meaning in the painting?

being fit/healthy

[uncountable] (British English) how fit and healthy somebody is; the state of being fit and healthy

in… form After six months' training the whole team is in superb form.
in form I really need to get back in form.
out of form The horse was clearly out of form.

Extra Examples

Barcelona are the team in form.
She was in fine form for the tournament.
The team entered the tournament in top form.
The team was out of form and did not play as well as expected.

Topics Health and Fitnessc1

performance

[uncountable] how well somebody/something is performing; the fact that somebody/something is performing well

Midfielder Elliott has shown disappointing form recently.
She signalled her return to form with a convincing victory.
on form (British English) He's right on form (= performing well) as a crazy science teacher in his latest movie.
on… form The whole team was on good form and deserved the win.
On current/present form the party is heading for another election victory.
in… form She was in great form (= happy and cheerful and full of energy) at the wedding party.

Extra Examples

He'll be a difficult opponent to beat; he's really on form today.
Yesterday's game saw him back on form.
Her recent illness possibly explains why she was off form in this race.
On his present form it seems likely that he will win the match.
She urgently needs to find her form.
The team is hoping that it can maintain its current form.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

fine
good
great
…

verb + form

maintain
find
regain
…

preposition

in form
off form
on form
…

phrases

a return to form

See full entry

way of doing things

[uncountable, countable] (especially British English) the usual way of doing something

What's the form when you apply for a research grant?
conventional social forms
True to form (= as he usually does) he arrived an hour late.
Partners of employees are invited as a matter of form (= because that is the usual way things are done).

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

common
different
various
…

verb + form

take
give

preposition

in… form
in the form of
form of
…

phrases

in any shape or form
in some form or other

See full entry

[uncountable] good/bad form (old-fashioned, British English) the way of doing things that is socially acceptable/not socially acceptable

When I was a boy it was always considered bad form to talk about food or money.
Good form dictated that she should dress more casually in the country.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

common
different
various
…

verb + form

take
give

preposition

in… form
in the form of
form of
…

phrases

in any shape or form
in some form or other

See full entry

in school

(British English, old-fashioned) a class in a school

Who's your form teacher?

see also sixth form compare year (5)Topics Educationc1

-former

(in compounds) (British English, old-fashioned) a student in the form mentioned at school

a third-former

form

verb

OPAL WOPAL S

/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/

jump to other results

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 makemake

do
create
develop
produce
generate
form

These 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’.