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

The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, composed of 30 stocks, has a history of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all three – the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Trustees also agreed to form a closed-session subcommittee composed of the four board members present, excluding Becerra from participating. —Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026

In the same image posted earlier by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Armstrong appears calm and composed during her arrest. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026

The pressure ensured Millender and his siblings remained composed, a skill now evident in his game. —Olivia Sayer, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 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
• 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