computed; computing
: to determine especially by mathematical means
Compute the area of the triangle.
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
Chuck FinderExamples of compute in a Sentence
for the test we were required to compute the answers without using a calculator
Recent Examples on the Web
Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing arm of the retailing giant, experienced a massive outage in the wee hours of Monday that knocked out what felt like everything.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Every extra word adds tokens for the model to process, and those tokens require computing power and electricity.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Her brain cannot compute — because there’s something so linear about education.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
Investigating protein folding with the world’s hottest engine The scientists also believe their Paul Trap could provide a new, efficient means for computing how proteins fold.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compute
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Every extra word adds tokens for the model to process, and those tokens require computing power and electricity.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Her brain cannot compute — because there’s something so linear about education.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
Investigating protein folding with the world’s hottest engine The scientists also believe their Paul Trap could provide a new, efficient means for computing how proteins fold.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compute
Cite this Entry
“Compute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compute. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compute
verb
com·pute
kəm-ˈpyüt 
computed; computing
1
: to determine or calculate especially by mathematical means
also
: to determine or calculate by means of a computer
2
informal
: to make sense
computable
adjective
-ˈpyüt-ə-bəl
Etymology
from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to account, count entry 1
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share