compile

verb

com·​pile kəm-ˈpī(-ə)l 

compiled; compiling

transitive verb

1

: to compose out of materials from other documents

compile a statistical chart

2

: to collect and edit into a volume

compile a book of poems

3

: to build up gradually

compiled a record of four wins and two losses

4

: to run (something, such as a program) through a compiler

Synonyms of compile

• collect

Examples of compile in a Sentence

He compiled a book of poems.

She compiled a list of names.

They took the best submissions and compiled them in a single issue of the magazine.

We compiled our findings in the report.

Recent Examples on the Web

Needham compiled its list by polling researchers for their ideas about which stocks would outperform in 2026. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2026

The Sacramento Bee compiled the numbers of homicide deaths in the four-county Sacramento region for the 2025 calendar year using the number of cases handled in each jurisdiction as part of the newspaper’s annual count. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026

This news organization derived the totals from figures that Atlas Hospitality compiled for its report. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026

Only three teams have accumulated fewer wins and only one has compiled fewer in regulation so far this season. —Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French compiler, from Latin compilare to plunder

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compile

• argyle
• awhile
• beguile
• condyle
• defile
• erstwhile
• exile
• freestyle
• gentile
• hairstyle
• lifestyle
• meanwhile

Kids Definition

compile

verb

com·​pile kəm-ˈpīl 

compiled; compiling

1

: to collect into a volume or list

compile a book of poems

2

: to put together in a new form out of materials from other books or documents

compile a history of India

3

: to translate (as a computer program) with a compiler