How to Use formal in a Sentence

formal

adjective
  • The cut of the suit is exactly the same, but the fabric is not quite as formal.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024
  • Just add a few jeweled pins, and you're set with a five-minute formal look.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
  • Classic horn buttons and a wider lapel make for a more formal look.
    Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 28 June 2023
  • Be sure to carve out some time to stroll around the formal gardens, which feature lakes and sculptures.
    Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
  • But for many of the rest of us, hearing our middle name can seem oddly formal.
    Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
  • In the vast and murky landscape of lace-ups, oxfords occupy the most formal spot.
    Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2023
  • Art had made a formal shirt for me with a spread collar back in 2022, monogrammed with my initials on the cuff.
    Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024
  • But make no mistake – the fancy dress and formal tableware does not mean the tents aren’t festive.
    USA TODAY, 10 July 2023
  • Find these in classic metals like gold and silver or adorned with gems to pair with your nine-to-five formal wear.
    Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 16 Jan. 2024
  • For Friday’s title game, the Matadors went formal, dressed in black.
    Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2023
  • Or, dress it up with a button-down shirt, suit pants, and some sharp leather shoes for more formal occasions.
    Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2023
  • Gaetz's motion marked the first formal attempt to remove a House speaker in 113 years.
    Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 21 Dec. 2023
  • Clock said the city has not received any formal correspondence from the state.
    Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2024
  • This elegant jumpsuit proves that the style can be dressy enough for formal events while still being no-fuss to pack.
    Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2024
  • There have been calls for a formal apology from the agency, and demands for stricter laws to prevent child abuse.
    Reuters, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2023
  • Anyone in the market for a more formal type of work footwear will prefer other options on this list.
    Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 21 July 2023
  • When the environment is too cold and damp for loafers or when an event is too formal for sneakers, ankle boots are the safest bet.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2023
  • And on May 19, Assad made his formal return at the league’s Jeddah summit.
    Sam Heller, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2023
  • Surrounding the manor are landscaped formal gardens that lead to two ponds.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 June 2023
  • On more formal occasions, reach for a wool coat like this double-breasted style that's on sale for $66.
    Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 10 Dec. 2023
  • Large windows fill the space with light while an ornate fireplace gives it an inviting, yet formal vibe.
    Joey Morona, cleveland, 21 July 2023
  • While such events are largely informal or semi-formal, there must be a method to the madness.
    Abiola Salami, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023
  • In that case, the council suspended Ridley-Thomas on the same day that the politician entered a formal plea.
    Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2023
  • Instead of a formal dining room, a circular glass table with seating for 10 sits at the end of the salon.
    Howard Walker, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
  • At the senior level, only 27% of women have had a formal mentor, compared to 38% of men.
    Tacy M. Byham, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
  • The outlines of a deal have come into view in recent weeks, even as a formal framework remains elusive.
    David Sivak, Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2024
  • The movement felt carpeted in lush, plush textures, yet drawn tight and tense by formal rigor.
    Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023
  • The great room is decked out with a fireplace, and nearby there’s a formal dining area, a cozy library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and a massive 25-foot eat-in kitchen.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2023
  • This time, the board took a tougher stance, deciding that Kelly can’t practice medicine until a formal hearing.
    The Arizona Republic, 8 Jan. 2024
  • Layers of fabric and hues of blue imbue the formal dining spot with elegance.
    Sally Finder Weepie, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'formal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: