Meaning of form In English

• 0 to begin to exist or to make something begin to exist:

  • A crowd formed around the accident.

  • A solution began to form in her mind.

  • I formed the impression (= the way she behaved suggested to me) that she didn't really want to come.

  • She formed the clay into a small bowl.

  • The lorries formed a barricade across the road.

  • Together they would form the next government.

  • This information formed the basis of the report.

  • The children formed into lines.

• 1 a paper or set of papers printed with spaces in which answers to questions can be written or information can be recorded in an organized way:

  • an application form (= document used for asking officially for something, for example a job)

  • an entry form (= document used to enter a competition)

  • Please fill in/out the form with black ink.

  • When you have completed the form, hand it in at the desk.

• 2 a type of something:

  • Swimming is the best form of exercise.

• 3 the shape or appearance of something:

  • I could just about make out his sleeping form on the bed.

  • The moon highlighted the shadowy forms of the hills.

  • The lawn was laid out in the form of the figure eight.

  • Trees and hedges started to take form as the fog cleared.

  • As they chatted, the idea of going skiing together gradually took form.

• 4 A competitor's form is their ability to be successful over a period of time:

  • Both horses have shown good form over the last season.

  • After a bad year, she has regained her form.

  • Paul was on good form at the wedding and kept everyone entertained.

• 5 one part of a verb or other word that has a special use or meaning:

  • The continuous form of "stand" is "standing".

  • "Stood" is the irregular past tense form of "stand".

  • "Hers" is the possessive form of "her".

  • "Isn't" is the short form of "is not".

• 6 in the UK, a class of school children or a group of classes of children of a similar age

• 7 rude behaviour:

  • Was that bad form then, leaving so early?

• 8 a long, thin seat, usually without a back

• 9 to come together and make a particular order or shape:

  • [ + to infinitive ] A crowd formed to watch the fire.

  • [ T ] Please form a single line.

  • [ T ] The geese flying overhead formed a V-shaped pattern.

• 10 to begin to have:

  • I formed the opinion that I was not really welcome there any more.

• 11 to begin something, esp. organizing people or things:

  • We formed a community group to help people who are sick or disabled.

  • They formed a new publishing company.

• 12 a type or kind of something, or the particular way in which something exists:

  • I was always more interested in poetry than in other forms of literature.

  • She has a mild form of the flu and should be OK in a few days.

  • The medicine comes in the form of a liquid or pills.

• 13 the shape or appearance of something:

  • The stadium was in the form of a circle.

• 14 something, usually paper, that has spaces marked where you fill in information:

  • Fill out an application form and we will let you know if a job opens up.

• 15 the organization, shape, and structure of a written work

• 16 the way in which someone does something:

  • He was in great form and won the golf tournament by 7 strokes.

• 17 a document printed with spaces in which to write answers or information:

  • fill in/out a form You will need to fill in form FW 20, available from your Social Security office.

  • You will be required to sign several forms.

• 18 to create a company, organization, etc.:

  • form a business/company/firm They joined together to form their own garment company.

  • form a committee/agency/task force The council President formed the committee when the number of complaints jumped from around 50 per month to nearly 1,200.

• 19 to develop a successful relationship with a person, organization, or country, especially for a particular purpose:

  • form a coalition/partnership/alliance A regional Latino business coalition was formed to seek ways to fight the measures.