compute

verb

com·​pute kəm-ˈpyüt 

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

Synonyms of compute

• calculate
• figure

Examples of compute in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Microsoft, OpenAI’s lead backer and dealer of computing power, needed more capacity. —Jordan Novet, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025

Inside the robot, a mix of computing power runs the brain. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025

Amazon has constructed seven cloud computing data centers in Morrow County, Oregon, like this one in Boardman, since 2011. —Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025

Tallulah, who loves perks but hates work, can neither compute the levels of fabrication behind Quen’s online persona nor imagine doing anything like it to sustain her own. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin computare — more at count

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing compute

• pre-compute

Rhymes for compute

• acute
• aleut
• astute
• beetroot
• breadfruit
• cheroot
• commute
• confute
• dilute
• dispute
• elute
• grapefruit

Kids 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

-ˈpyüt-ə-bəl

adjective

Etymology

from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to account, count entry 1