variants or less commonly aline
aligned also alined; aligning also alining; aligns also alines
Synonyms of alignnext

transitive verb

1
: to bring into line or alignment
aligned the books on the shelf
2
: to array on the side of or against a party or cause
He aligned himself with the protesters.

intransitive verb

1
: to get or fall into line
He aligned with his friends against a common enemy.
2
: to be in or come into precise adjustment or correct relative position
Negative ends of molecules align with positive ends of other molecules.
aligner noun

Examples of align in a Sentence

He aligned the two holes so he could put the screw through them. The two parts of the machine are not properly aligned. The text aligns with the bottom of the picture. The schools had to align their programs with state requirements. She is aligning with other senators to oppose his nomination.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For members of the state’s business community, that was a promising focus, one that closely aligned with their own goals. P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026 The most successful charters are those where yacht, crew, and itinerary align seamlessly with the guests’ intentions. Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 16 May 2026 This finding aligns with the idea that factors such as sedimentation and erosion would chip away at a coastline’s complexity more than, say, a mountaintop’s. Alex Music, Scientific American, 16 May 2026 That limited expansion aligns with what Netflix executives have publicly said about their strategy. Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for align

Word History

Etymology

French aligner, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + ligne line, from Latin linea

First Known Use

circa 1693, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of align was circa 1693

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Align.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/align. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

align

verb
variants also aline
1
: to bring into or be in line or alignment
2
: to cause to be for or against something (as a belief or political party)
aligned himself with the opposition
aligner noun

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