compute

verb

com·​pute kəm-ˈpyüt How to pronounce compute (audio)
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

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
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.
Her creation involved everything from sound engineering and text-to-speech software to AI computing servers. Faye Bradley, Variety, 4 July 2025 In calculating prescription drug price comparisons, simply computing the differences between prices isn’t sufficient. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025 Just yesterday, for example, OpenAI agreed to rent a massive amount of computing power from Oracle data centers as part of its Stargate initiative, which intends to invest $500 billion over the next four years building new AI infrastructure for OpenAI in the United States. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 3 July 2025 Large data centers, with a huge amount of computing equipment on site, require cooling systems, which use hundreds of thousands of gallons every day. Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for compute

Word History

Etymology

Latin computare — more at count

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of compute was in 1579

Cite this Entry

“Compute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compute. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

compute

verb
com·​pute kəm-ˈpyüt How to pronounce compute (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on compute

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