transform
Americanverb (used with object)
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to change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose.
- Synonyms:
- transfigure
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to change in condition, nature, or character; convert.
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to change into another substance; transmute.
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Electricity.
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to increase or decrease (the voltage and current characteristics of an alternating-current circuit), as by means of a transformer.
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to decrease (the voltage and current characteristics of a direct-current circuit), as by means of a transformer.
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Mathematics. to change the form of (a figure, expression, etc.) without in general changing the value.
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Physics. to change into another form of energy.
verb (used without object)
noun
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Mathematics.
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a mathematical quantity obtained from a given quantity by an algebraic, geometric, or functional transformation.
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the transformation itself.
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the result of a transformation.
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a transformation.
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Logic. transformation.
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Linguistics. a structure derived by a transformation.
verb
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to alter or be altered radically in form, function, etc
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(tr) to convert (one form of energy) to another form
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(tr) maths to change the form of (an equation, expression, etc) by a mathematical transformation
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(tr) to increase or decrease (an alternating current or voltage) using a transformer
noun
Synonym Usage
Transform , convert mean to change one thing into another. Transform suggests changing from one form, appearance, structure, or type to another: to transform soybeans into oil and meal by pressure. Convert suggests so changing the characteristics as to change the use or purpose: to convert a barn into a house.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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intertransformableadjective
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nontransformingadjective
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self-transformedadjective
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transformableadjective
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transformativeadjective
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untransformableadjective
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untransformedadjective
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untransformingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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transformsimple
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transformssimple
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have transformedperfect
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has transformedperfect
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am transformingprogressive
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are transformingprogressive
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is transformingprogressive
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have been transformingperfect progressive
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has been transformingperfect progressive
Past
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transformedsimple
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had transformedperfect
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was transformingprogressive
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were transformingprogressive
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had been transformingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of transform
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English transformen, from Latin trānsfōrmāre “to change in shape”; see trans-, form
Explanation
When you transform you change from one thing or state to another. Picture a transformer that changes from a robot to a car. Simple, right? Caterpillars transform into butterflies, a forest is transformed by a snowfall, and a city can be transformed by a new government or a changing economy. Transform means a big change in appearance or in essence. The Internet has transformed how we live our day-to-day lives, but you wouldn't say that moving a throw pillow has transformed your living room.
Vocabulary lists containing transform
Shape Up: Form
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Starting Your New Life: Inspiring Words from Commencement Speeches
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Brown Girl Dreaming
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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 suffering is immense, but so is the strength and resilience of our people. This concert at the Hollywood Bowl is an invitation to stand together and transform our compassion into action.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
Direct lithium extraction, or DLE, has the potential to transform production of the battery metal, according to the International Energy Agency, which forecasts rapidly growing lithium demand to create a market shortfall by the 2030s.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
Could quantum computers transform medicine and materials science?
From Science Daily • Jul. 5, 2026
The project, part of a £37m investment, which includes £4.3m in government funding, aims to transform production in the UK with upgraded facilities and retrained staff for a more modern industry.
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
Anything had the potential to transform, and this, to her, seemed the true meaning of art.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
