comprise

verb

com·​prise kəm-ˈprīz 

comprised; comprising

transitive verb

1

: to be made up of

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

—Jane Jacobs

The play comprises three acts.

2

: 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

3

: 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?

The earliest meaning of comprise, "to be made up of" (as in "a team comprising nine players"), is sometimes regarded as the word's only correct use. However, this grammatical prescription denies a well-established sense of the word: "to compose or constitute" (as in "the nine players who comprise the team"). Until relatively recently, this 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. You might be most familiar with this disputed use in the passive construction, "to be comprised of" (as in "a team comprised of nine players"). Apologies to the haters: a single sense simply can’t comprise comprise.

Synonyms

• consist (of)
• contain
• muster

Examples of comprise in a Sentence

Each army division comprised 4,500 troops.

The play comprises three acts.

Recent Examples on the Web

An advisory board typically comprises individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025

Mostly comprising footage from phones and GoPro cameras attached to their helmets and chests, the film offers rare access to the medics’ daily lives, their reliance on each other and a testament to the camaraderie required to survive in this world. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 June 2025

The range comprises about 28 pieces, including chain necklaces, earrings, pendants, rings and cuffs, crafted from 18-karat rose gold. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 5 June 2025

The Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program comprises nearly 10% of the Boston Marathon field size. —Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French compris, past participle of comprendre, from Latin comprehendere — see comprehend

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for comprise

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

comprise

verb

com·​prise kəm-ˈprīz 

comprised; comprising

1

: include, contain

the test comprised two essay questions

2

: to be made up of

the play comprises three acts

3

: compose sense 1b, constitute

nine players comprise a baseball team