comprise

verb

com·prise kəm-ˈprīz

comprised; comprising

Synonyms of comprise next

transitive verb

: to be made up of

The factory was to be a vast installation, comprising fifty buildings.—

Jane Jacobs

The play comprises three acts.

: compose, constitute

… a misconception as to what comprises a literary generation.—

William Styron

… about 8 percent of our military forces are comprised of women.—

Jimmy Carter

: to include especially within a particular scope

… civilization as Lenin used the term would then certainly have comprised the changes that are now associated in our minds with "developed" rather than "developing" states.—

The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Comprise vs. Compose: Usage Guide

Although it has been in use since the late 18th century, sense 2 is still attacked as wrong. Why it has been singled out is not clear, but until comparatively recent times it was found chiefly in scientific or technical writing rather than belles lettres. Our current evidence shows a slight shift in usage: sense 2 is somewhat more frequent in recent literary use than the earlier senses. You should be aware, however, that if you use sense 2 you may be subject to criticism for doing so, and you may want to choose a safer synonym such as compose or make up.

Did you know?

Comprise has undergone a substantial shift in usage since first appearing in English in the 15th century. For many years, grammarians insisted that the usage of comprise meaning "to be made up of," as in phrases like "a team comprising nine players," was correct, and that comprise meaning "to make up," as in phrases like "the nine players who comprise the team," was not. This disputed use is most common in the passive construction "to be comprised of," as in "a team comprised of nine players." Until relatively recently, this less-favored sense appeared mostly in scientific writing, but current evidence shows that it is now somewhat more common in general use than the word's other meanings.

Example Sentences

Each army division comprised 4,500 troops. The play comprises three acts.

Recent Examples on the Web The estate reportedly covers 24,000 square meters, and comprises 10 buildings, plus a swimming pool. —

Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 25 May 2023 Today, the 17-acre property comprises an 11-bedroom home, an outdoor swimming pool, a walled garden, and a gym. —

Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 May 2023 Women comprised just 29% of Goldman's 2022 partner class, the firm's most inclusive group of promotions to date. —

Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 9 May 2023 Anti-monarchists comprise a voluble minority in Britain. —

Alexander Smith, NBC News, 3 May 2023 Such deep cuts are virtually impossible to square with McCarthy’s pledges not to touch Social Security, Medicare, national defense, or veterans’ benefits, which together comprise more than 85% of non-interest spending. —

Ben Ritz, Forbes, 3 May 2023 The ballots are in, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2023 will comprise Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and the Spinners. —

Al Shipley, SPIN, 3 May 2023 These include which companies are at the vanguard of AI, and what comprises their supply chains, similar to how the agency assesses other key technologies such as semiconductor and computer-chip manufacturing. —

James Rundle, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2023 In contrast, the nasal spray vaccine comprises a live flu virus. —

Sarah Klein, Health, 25 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comprise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.