constitute

verb

con·​sti·​tute ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtüt 

-ˌtyüt

constituted; constituting

transitive verb

1

: make up, form, compose

12 months constitute a year.

… high school dropouts who constitute a major problem in large city slums.

—J. B. Conant

2

: set up, establish: such as

a

: enact

regulations as are constituted by the government

b

: found

constitute a provisional government

c(1)

: to give due or lawful form to

an agreement constituted by writing

(2)

: to legally process

3

: to appoint to an office, function, or dignity

Legal authority constitutes all magistrates.

Synonyms of constitute

• comprise
• compose

Examples of constitute in a Sentence

Women constitute 70 percent of the student population at the college.

nine players constitute a baseball team

Recent Examples on the Web

This column does not constitute legal advice. —Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 22 Feb. 2026

The defense, meanwhile, argued that the pair, who had been dating for around a year, constituted equal partners. —Owen Clarke, Outside, 21 Feb. 2026

All of this combines to give the body the dexterity, agility, and exactitude that constitutes high performance in the right moment. —Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026

That's partly because there is no widespread consensus on what constitutes social media addiction and whether underlying mental health issues contribute to problematic use. —ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin constitutus, past participle of constituere to set up, constitute, from com- + statuere to set — more at statute

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for constitute

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute
• kiwifruit

Kids Definition

constitute

verb

con·​sti·​tute ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌt(y)üt 

constituted; constituting

1

: to appoint to an office or duty

constituted authorities

2

: set up sense 4, establish

a fund was constituted to help needy students

3

: make up sense 2, form

twelve months constitute a year

Legal Definition

constitute

transitive verb

con·​sti·​tute ˈkän-stə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt 

1

: to appoint to an office or function

those who are constituted heirs or named legatees

—Louisiana Civil Code

legal authority constitutes all magistrates

2

: establish, found

to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court

—U.S. Constitution art. I

3

a

: to put (as an agreement) into required form

b

: to qualify as

a letter can constitute a will

—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.

failure to act may constitute negligence

c

: to form the substance or whole of

the bonds constituted the entire estate