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
Each firm has its competencies and costing schedules, but more obvious differentiation manifests itself in terms of how far each vendor can extend into the edge computing space and, crucially, make use of AI accelerators and intelligence boosters.
—Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Making Android the base of Google's personal computing efforts could fuel the company's next attempt to compete with the iPad.
—ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025
Customers can now access the AWS service as computing instances that go by the name P6e, Brown wrote in a blog post.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 July 2025
The legislation includes protections for whistleblowers within AI companies and the creation of a public cloud to provide low-cost access to computing power for startups and academic researchers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for compute
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Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Making Android the base of Google's personal computing efforts could fuel the company's next attempt to compete with the iPad.
—ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025
Customers can now access the AWS service as computing instances that go by the name P6e, Brown wrote in a blog post.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 July 2025
The legislation includes protections for whistleblowers within AI companies and the creation of a public cloud to provide low-cost access to computing power for startups and academic researchers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 9 July 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 29 Jul. 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
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