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Glite Dictionary
good form

good form

3 4.9
Polite behavior people expect in social situations
  • noun
translation icon : buen comportamiento
  • In the business world, it is considered good form to respond to emails promptly.

Examples

  • Isn't it fantastic to see Robert in such good form?

    The Laureate (2023)

  • Arsene Wenger has said that his team's recent run of good form is a result of their failures in the 2010/11 season.

    Blog text (28)

  • We're so glad to see you on good form and doing well.

  • I thought you were, you know, on good form tonight.

    Down Terrace (2010)

  • You know, I was in good form.

    Bananas (1971)

  • Well, Larry's certainly in good form today.

    Haunted Honeymoon (1986)

  • I don't seem to be in very good form tonight.

    Son of the Gods (1930)

  • And then if you're feeling on good form, we can go for another little walk in the park.

    The Father (2020)

  • You're in good form.

    Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)

  • A stickler for good form, Sasha's polka-dot bowtie remained neatly butterflied, and in spite of the heat, he stubbornly kept his jacket on.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

convention
vsgood form
106 3.9

A usual way of behaving that most people in a group follow

is the behavior considered proper when judged against such shared rules
propriety
vsgood form
  • Formal
27 7.4

Behavior that most people think is correct in a situation

is the behavior judged acceptable by current social conventions
good manners
vsgood form
23 1.0

Polite and respectful actions toward other people

is broader, covering accepted conduct beyond only politeness between people

Antonyms

rudeness
27 1.8

Lack of politeness or respect for other people

How Proper

exemplary
45 5.8
good form
3 4.9
proper
596 2.2

Surface Forms

good form singular
good forms plural

Morphology

good + form

The meaning 'behavior that is considered proper' is directly derivable from combining 'good' (appropriate/approved) with 'form' (a manner or way of behaving), yielding 'a good manner' or proper conduct. This compositional pattern is common and found across languages (e.g., Spanish 'buenas formas' = good manners), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Good form may come from the past when people followed a set form, a correct way to act at events and meetings. That's why good form came to mean being 'proper' or 'polite'.