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
Second, banking giant JPMorganChase announced a collaboration with chipmaker AMD and quantum computing company OQC to build a quantum AI research platform in London that uses advanced computing tech for commercially valuable problems.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
Quantinuum is the quantum computing company spun out of Honeywell, which is a holding in Cramer’s Charitable Trust, the portfolio run by the CNBC Investing Club.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Tan said the partnership will deploy more than 20 gigawatts of computing capacity through 2028.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Filmmakers, like government regulators here and abroad, are presently trying to compute the overall impact of the Warner-Paramount-Skydance merger, co-funded in part by Middle Eastern resources.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for compute
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Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
Quantinuum is the quantum computing company spun out of Honeywell, which is a holding in Cramer’s Charitable Trust, the portfolio run by the CNBC Investing Club.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Tan said the partnership will deploy more than 20 gigawatts of computing capacity through 2028.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Filmmakers, like government regulators here and abroad, are presently trying to compute the overall impact of the Warner-Paramount-Skydance merger, co-funded in part by Middle Eastern resources.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for compute
Cite this Entry
“Compute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compute. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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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