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formative

formative

25 5.3
Having a strong influence on how someone or something develops
  • adjective
  • /ˈfɔːrmətɪv/
translation icon : formativo
  • My time at summer camp was a formative experience that shaped my love for nature.
  • formative assessments
  • formative evaluation
  • formative feedback

So, so I think those were the big formative steps.

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Examples

  • What were key parts of your early life that were kind of formative experiences for who you are now?

  • I spent my formative years underground, where everything was dark and wet and hot.

  • Well, these are very formative years and people ask me so much.

  • You know, that would be a very formative experience in my life.

  • And spent most of my formative years.

  • Growing up with a group of people, it's your personal history, your formative years.

  • It's a journey that many scientists tell us was a formative one for our species.

  • But obviously this was a huge loss for them during the very formative period of their existence.

  • But what are some of your earliest, most formative memories from your childhood?

  • So I thought, I could provide a positive influence in what I am sure was a formative and probably tumultuous time for you.

Synonyms

impactive
vsformative
7.5

Having a strong effect on people or situations

focuses on influencing development and growth rather than any general effect
shaping
vsformative
3.6

Making something develop in a particular way

focuses on influencing growth and development rather than physical appearance

Antonyms

Not able to change other people's ideas or actions

Compounds

formative cell
  • Specialized
7.5

A cell in an early embryo that can grow into a specific part of the body

How Formative

defining
20 4.6
formative
25 5.3
influential
189 4.6
minor
600 2.4

Surface Forms

formative positive
formative comparative
formative superlative

Morphology

formative = form (semi-transparent) = form + ative

The suffix '-ative' indicates a tendency or capability, which is not always immediately clear to learners.

Etymology

Formative comes from the Latin formare, meaning 'to form' or 'to shape'. Imagine a potter shaping clay: a formative experience 'shapes' who you become, so the word means something that strongly influences growth.