computed; computing
: to determine especially by mathematical means
Compute the area of the triangle.
1
: to make calculation : reckon
They compute by weight in selling grain.
2
: to use a computer
3
informal
: to make sense
No matter how you do the math, it will not work … . It simply does not compute.—
Chuck Finder
Chuck FinderExamples of compute in a Sentence
for the test we were required to compute the answers without using a calculator
Recent Examples on the Web
This reduces decision fatigue for developers, keeps performance consistent, and allows the model to allocate computing resources dynamically, going deep when a problem requires it, or staying lightweight for simpler queries.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Tesla's focus on Dojo and another computing cluster called Cortex were meant to improve the company's advanced driver assistance systems, and to enable Musk to finally deliver on his promise to turn existing Teslas into robotaxis.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2025
The boom in generative AI and advanced large language models—technologies that require vast amounts of computing resources—has forced tech giants to rapidly increase their physical infrastructure.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
To adjust for that, the Tribune computed earlier times people may have left Broadview, based on reasonable travel times from Broadview to the next ICE facilities — calculated through online mapping software and more plausible entries by ICE for others sent the same places.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compute
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Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Tesla's focus on Dojo and another computing cluster called Cortex were meant to improve the company's advanced driver assistance systems, and to enable Musk to finally deliver on his promise to turn existing Teslas into robotaxis.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2025
The boom in generative AI and advanced large language models—technologies that require vast amounts of computing resources—has forced tech giants to rapidly increase their physical infrastructure.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
To adjust for that, the Tribune computed earlier times people may have left Broadview, based on reasonable travel times from Broadview to the next ICE facilities — calculated through online mapping software and more plausible entries by ICE for others sent the same places.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compute
Cite this Entry
“Compute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compute. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compute
verb
com·pute
kəm-ˈpyüt 
computed; computing
1
: to determine or calculate especially by mathematical means
also
: to determine or calculate by means of a computer
2
informal
: to make sense
computable
adjective
-ˈpyüt-ə-bəl
Etymology
from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to account, count entry 1
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