compute

verb com·pute \ kəm-ˈpyüt \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Examples: compute in a Sentence

Definition of compute

computed; computing

transitive verb

: to determine especially by mathematical means

Compute the area of the triangle.

; also : to determine or calculate by means of a computer

computing pi to over one billion places

intransitive verb

1 : to make calculation : reckon

They compute by weight in selling grain.

2 : to use a computer

3 informal : to make sense

No matter how you do the math, it will not work … . It simply does not compute.
—Chuck Finder

See compute defined for English-language learners

See compute defined for kids

Examples of compute in a Sentence

for the test we were required to compute the answers without using a calculator

Recent Examples of compute from the Web

His full coronation on the Billboard chart will not come until next week, when his totals are computed.

— ben sisario, New York Times, "Drake’s ‘Scorpion’ Is a Streaming Giant," 2 July 2018
Bitcoin developers agree to changes to the system’s software, which miners then implement in what amounts to a vote by computing power.

— The Economist, "Raiders of the killer dappBlockchain technology may offer a way to re-decentralise the internet," 28 June 2018
If this estimate is computed across all the sectors, the job loss number would be an estimated 10-12 million across all sectors, according to the survey by the staffing and human resources company.

— anirban nag, Bloomberg.com, "Maternity Perks May Cost 1.8 Million Indian Women Their Jobs," 27 June 2018
The idea of being an arm's length away from art just doesn't compute any more.

— refinery29.com, "Pop Culture Is Breathing New Life Into Stuffy Museums," 18 June 2018
Consciousness cannot be computed: it must be built into the structure of the system.

— christof koch, Scientific American, "What Is Consciousness?," 8 May 2018
Any idea how these attendance numbers are computed and how a lottery team led the league?

— k.c. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Bulls Q&A: What position will they address in the draft? How will Zach LaVine's contract talks go?," 17 Apr. 2018
Also on display: dancers and acrobats tracked by Intel's RealSense 3D cameras, which will compute their movements into a Vegas-worthy visual arts performance.

— mike snider, USA TODAY, "Intel CEO Brian Krzanich's embrace of the future snagged by flaws of past," 7 Jan. 2018
The movie muddies the timeline a bit, but Johnson's first big NASA assignment was computing the trajectories for Alan Shepard's historic flight in 1961.

— matt blitz, Popular Mechanics, "The True Story of 'Hidden Figures' and the Women Who Crunched the Numbers for NASA," 3 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of compute

Latin computare — more at count

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1579

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

compute Synonyms

Synonyms

calculate, cipher, figure, reckon, work out;

add, divide, multiply, subtract;

allow (for), deduct, factor (in or into or out), figure in;

figure out, solve (for);

count, itemize, number;

calibrate, gauge (also gage), measure, scale;

appraise, assess, estimate, evaluate, rate, value;

recalculate, recompute, refigure;

COMPUTE Defined for English Language Learners

compute

verb

Definition of compute for English Language Learners

: to find out (something) by using mathematical processes

COMPUTE Defined for Kids

compute

verb com·pute \ kəm-ˈpyüt \

Definition of compute for Students

computed; computing

: to find out by using mathematics

compute a total

Word Root of compute

The Latin word putāre, meaning “to think,” gives us the root put. Words from the Latin putāre have something to do with thinking. A reputation is what other people think about something or someone. To compute is to use math to think about a bunch of numbers together in order to answer a problem. To dispute is to argue because two or more people think different things.