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to comply

to comply

332 3.8
Do what a rule or person asks
  • verb
  • /kəmˈplaɪ/
translation icon : cumplir con
  • Employers who fail to comply can be fined up to $5,000.
  • comply with the law
  • comply with regulations
  • fail to comply

And obviously a lot of criminals just don't comply with it and they sell guns.

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Examples

  • In 1984, the federal court ruled that the DOE had to comply with federal hazardous waste regulations.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Well, I would... I would try to comply with the court's order.

  • And but you have to comply with ICE.

  • I get it, like you want to comply with your network.

  • Well, then why did you finally decide to comply?

  • We have already met your first condition and are willing to comply with the rest of your demands.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Most states and local authorities comply because they can rarely afford to lose federal funding.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The curriculum typically begins by teaching the child to comply with the instruction to "sit down."

    Academic text (1999)
  • The industry must then develop new technologies and practices to comply efficiently with the regulations.

    Academic text (1999)
  • In order to keep the job, employees must comply with the company's safety guidelines.

Synonyms

to follow
vsto comply
1.0

To act according to rules, advice, or beliefs

is more about responding to specific requests or commands
to obey
vsto comply
411 1.0

Do what someone in charge tells you or follow a rule

is broader and includes acting for rules or voluntary reasons
to satisfy
vsto comply
243 2.8

Meet a rule or requirement

is about acting to obey or conform rather than just meeting conditions
to conform
vsto comply
96 3.2

Think and act like other people or follow rules

is focused on doing what rules or orders require
to observe
vsto comply
93 3.4

To follow a rule or tradition by doing what it asks

focuses on doing what authorities or rules require, not rituals
to go by
vsto comply
91 1.8

To follow a rule or plan

is about complying with explicit requests or commands
to adhere
vsto comply
87 4.7

Continue to follow and support a rule, belief, or person

is the simple act of acting to meet a request or order
to take orders
vsto comply
81 3.2

To accept and follow directions from a person in charge

emphasizes acting to meet rules, requests, or commands generally
to adhere to
vsto comply
79 3.9

To follow rules or instructions

is the broader act of doing what rules or orders ask
to abide by
vsto comply
79 3.5

To accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement

is the same idea but applies also to simple requests
to follow orders
vsto comply
60 2.9

To do what a person in charge tells you without asking questions

is not limited to unquestioning obedience and includes consent
to follow the rule
vsto comply
55 2.8

Do what a rule says

is similar but can be less strict or formal in practice
to conform to
vsto comply
50 3.7

Do what rules or standards say you must

covers that action but also informal obedience and requests
to fall in line
vsto comply
  • Informal
18 4.3

To follow rules or other people after not wanting to at first

includes immediate or willing action to meet requests
to toe the line
vsto comply
  • Informal
9 5.4

To do what people in charge expect and follow the rules exactly

can include looser or partial agreement with rules
to comply with regulations
vsto comply
  • Formal
1 3.4

Follow rules or laws that apply to you

is the general act that also covers informal requests

Antonyms

178 3.7

Openly refuse to obey someone or seem to resist a force like time

126 3.7

To refuse to follow rules or orders from someone in charge

Phrasal Verbs

Follow rules or laws that apply to you

How Compliant

to obey
411 1.0
to submit
187 4.1
to comply
332 3.8
to refuse
716 1.7
to disobey
126 3.7

Surface Forms

comply infinitive
complied past
complied past participle
complying present participle
complies third person singular

Morphology

comply = ply (opaque) = com + ply

Although the form can be parsed as com- + ply, the modern meaning 'to obey/comply with' is not derivable from the base verb 'ply' by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word comply comes from Latin parts com- ('with') and plere ('to fill'), and it shares the same root as complete ('finish'). So to comply is like 'filling' a request — doing what someone asks or following a rule.