compose

verb

com·​pose kəm-ˈpōz 

composed; composing

transitive verb

1

a

: to form by putting together : fashion

… a committee composed of three representatives …

—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

5

: to free from agitation : calm, settle

I breathed deeply to compose myself.

Life moves on, … and one must compose oneself to meet it …

—Rose Macaulay

intransitive verb

: to practice composition (as of literary, musical, or typographical work)

At the age of 10, he was composing at the piano.

Synonyms of compose

• prepare
• write
• draft

Examples of compose in a Sentence

She composed a letter to her sister.

He is in his studio composing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gastrotypographicalassemblage is an approximately eight-by-thirty-four-foot wooden mural composed mostly of culinary terms set in expressive three-dimensional typefaces. — Alec Mapes-Frances, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played the mischievous Zack Morris to Haskins’ composed Principal Belding on the hit ’90s sitcom, remembers his late costar as more of a protective older brother than an authority figure. — Kat Pettibone, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2026

Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026

The script for most of the text is Carolingian minuscule, a popular script from the 9th to the 12th century that was no longer the standard by the time the Codex Gigas was composed in the 13th century. — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French composer, from Latin componere (perfect indicative composui) — more at compound

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for compose

• aloes
• arose
• bestows
• boroughs
• buboes
• cargoes
• cocos
• compos
• crossbows
• demos
• depose
• disclose

Kids 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