Definitions

comply

[kuhm-plahy] / kəmˈplaɪ /

VERB

abide by, follow agreement or instructions

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquiesce adhere to give in give up obey observe quit satisfy submit

STRONG

accede accord defer discharge ditto fold fulfill keep mind perform respect yield

WEAK

agree to cave in come around conform to consent to cry uncle don't make waves don't rock the boat fit in give out go along with go with the flow knuckle to knuckle under play ball play the game put out roll over and play dead shape up stay in line straighten up throw in towel toss it in yes one

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disobey dissuade

STRONG

condemn deny disallow disapprove fail ignore neglect oppose prevent refuse withhold

WEAK

decline rebuff reject resist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The police said in a statement that Gallegos did not comply with their requests, and they used force to arrest him.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

The Pentagon has failed to comply with a court order to restore press access, a federal judge ruled Thursday, rejecting new restrictions put in place by the department after its prior rules were deemed unconstitutional.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Rowell, formerly of the Abergavenny area in Wales, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with a notification requirement between 1 November 2025 and 26 March this year.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

That has been exacerbated, she said, by homeowners’ failure to comply with terms of the original permit, which required them to provide sand to cover the geotubes—sand that would naturally erode and nourish other beaches.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

But he understood why they needed him to comply, so he agreed.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Vocabulary lists containing comply

ASVAB Word Knowledge

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Hate U Give

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!