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.

—Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

5

: to free from agitation : calm, settle

composed himself

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

• 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

David is back in California, composing music for true-crime podcasts, while Nigel and Derek, who both live in England, run a cheese/guitar shop and a glue museum, respectively. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

It is composed of smaller particles called quarks and gluons, bound by the strong interaction. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025

Brian Tyler will return to compose the score. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025

Of the group of close friends — composed mainly of high-level soccer players — who take those offseason trips together, Bond is the only one Holding has yet to play against. —Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025

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
• bedclothes
• bestows
• boroughs
• buboes
• cargoes
• cocos
• 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