comply

UK: /kəmˈplaɪ/ US: /kəmˈplaɪ/ ,(kəm plī′)

Inflections of 'comply' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

complies

v 3rd person singular

complying

v pres p

complied

v past

complied

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

com•ply /kəmˈplaɪ/   v. [no object* (~ + with + object)] , -plied, -ply•ing. 

1. to act or be in accordance with wishes, requirements, or conditions;
   obey:
   We cannot comply with your demands for the files.

See -plic-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

com•ply  (kəm plī′), v.i., -plied, -ply•ing. 

1. to act or be in accordance with wishes, requests, demands, requirements, conditions, etc.;
   agree (sometimes fol. by with):
   They asked him to leave and he complied. She has complied with the requirements.
2. [Obs.] to be courteous or conciliatory.

• Latin complēre, equivalent. to com- com- + plē- fill + -re infinitive suffix
• Spanish cumplir (see compliment) to fulfill, accomplish
• Italian complire
• 1595–1605

Synonyms

• 1. acquiesce, yield, conform, obey, consent, assent.

Antonyms

• 1. refuse, resist.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

comply / kəmˈplaɪ/ verb ( -plies, -plying, -plied)(intransitive)

1. (usually followed by with) to act in accordance with rules, wishes, etc; be obedient (to)

Etymology: 17th Century: from Italian complire, from Spanish cumplir to complete; see compliment