composed; composing
1
a
: to form by putting together : fashion
… a committee composed of three representatives …—
Current Biography
Current Biography
b
: to form the substance of : constitute
composed of many ingredients
c
: to produce (columns, pages of type, etc.) by composition
2
a
: to create by mental or artistic labor : produce
compose a sonnet
b(1)
: to formulate and write (a piece of music)
composed a symphony
(2)
: to compose music for
3
: to deal with or act on so as to reduce to a minimum
compose their differences
4
: to arrange in proper or orderly form
The two men had laid him on the bed, and composed his limbs.—Sheridan Le Fanu
Sheridan Le Fanu
: to practice composition (as of literary, musical, or typographical work)
At the age of 10, he was composing at the piano.
Examples of compose in a Sentence
She composed a letter to her sister.
He is in his studio composing.
Recent Examples on the Web
But it’s broken up by musical numbers that go down easy, since a lot of them, as composed by Justin Tranter (and sung with sweet vibrance by the Jonases), come off like Michael Bublé heartwarmers.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Nov. 2025
The electro-chill track produced in testing by PowerDirector was as good as most people with human brains would be able to compose, including the present company.
—PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025
Skandalakis, a former Coweta County district attorney whose council is composed of district attorneys and solicitors general from across the state, said no other prosecutor agreed to step in despite multiple attempts.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
The music that pours forth, composed by the electronic artist Kangding Ray, is magnificently transporting, and the ravers surrender to the beat with glorious delirium.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compose
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Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Nov. 2025
The electro-chill track produced in testing by PowerDirector was as good as most people with human brains would be able to compose, including the present company.
—PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025
Skandalakis, a former Coweta County district attorney whose council is composed of district attorneys and solicitors general from across the state, said no other prosecutor agreed to step in despite multiple attempts.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
The music that pours forth, composed by the electronic artist Kangding Ray, is magnificently transporting, and the ravers surrender to the beat with glorious delirium.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compose
Cite this Entry
“Compose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compose. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compose
verb
com·pose
kəm-ˈpōz 
composed; composing
1
a
: to form by putting together : fashion
b
: to form the substance of : constitute
a stew composed of many ingredients
c
: to arrange type in order for printing : set
2
: to create by mental or artistic labor
compose a song
3
: to arrange in proper form
4
: to make calm
composed himself
compose your feelings
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