complies

Complies is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb comply. To comply means to act in accordance with a rule, request, order, or instruction. It is commonly used with prepositional phrases such as with or to, indicating the standard, directive, or expectation being followed.

Usage typically appears in formal or legal contexts. For example, a company may say it complies with environmental regulations, or a product may be designed to comply with safety standards. The standard expression is comply with; while comply to is heard in some contexts, especially outside the United States, compliance with rules or standards is generally described as “complies with.”

Forms and related terms: the verb’s base form is comply, with past tense complied and present participle complying. The noun form is compliance, and a person or thing that adheres to rules can be described as compliant.

Etymology and nuance: comply originates from a combination of Latin elements meaning to fill up or complete, passing through Old French into English. The sense evolved from fulfilling or meeting a requirement to the broader idea of acting in accordance with specified rules or wishes. In usage, compliance often implies voluntary adherence to stated requirements, though it is frequently compelled by law, policy, or contract.