composition

noun

ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce composition (audio)
Definition of compositionnext
1
as in piece
a literary, musical, or artistic production the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David

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2
as in paper
a short piece of writing done as a school exercise a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions

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3
as in layout
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images

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4
as in article
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view submitted a composition to the local newspaper for its special section marking Martin Luther King Day

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of composition By creating incredibly comprehensive 3D views of this exoplanet's atmosphere, researchers found that WASP-17b's atmosphere has a chemical composition and temperature that shift between dayside and nightside according to theory and modelling. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Fortune has not independently tested the ring or verified its metal composition. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Auspiciously, the mother is also a poet, her compositions framed and hung on the walls of the house. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 In one store, there was the sales floor mattress that, while possessing the most similar material composition to the Hästens, missing only the expensive horsehair, served primarily to sell the brand’s organic bedding. — Jaklin Romine oct. 15, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for composition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for composition
  1. piece
  2. paper
  3. layout
  4. article
  5. work
  6. essay
  7. design
  8. masterpiece
Noun
  • For the spring 2027 collection, McGirr fulfilled a dream, inviting the jeweler and former McQueen collaborator, Shaun Leane, to create pieces for the runway for the first time in 16 years.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Schlossman does admit that not every piece of the AI ecosystem will pass a stress test.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of piece
Noun
  • The artwork has been hand-folded to create two feather-like forms, inspired by the watermark found on Smythson’s featherweight paper.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The authors of this latest paper sought to capture the venom-pumping kinematics of honey bee stingers in order to identify the underlying biomechanics.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of paper
Noun
  • According to the layout document, Russian delegates were seated between attendees from South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • To accommodate the growth, the fair will also revise its layout.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of layout
Noun
  • Information for this article was contributed by Paul Wiseman, Farnoush Amiri and Alex Veiga of The Associated Press and by Pete Schroeder, Ismail Shakil and Saeed Azhar of Reuters.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Guilfoyle’s yearlong tenure in Athens was rocked last month by the first of multiple Journal articles on conduct that has raised alarms among ethics experts and former government officials.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of article
Noun
  • Chisell, who previously worked at Amazon, eBay and Starling Bank, estimates that Paysend can now deliver around 25% more engineering work with the same-sized team, but argues that getting results isn’t as simple as handing everyone the latest tech.
    — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Making the show work within Keery’s schedule was a challenge.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of work
Noun
  • John Muir, sometimes called the father of the national parks, carried Emerson’s essays in his pack.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Shortly before his departure, Sweeney published an essay that reaffirmed his curatorial convictions.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of essay
Noun
  • Such designs can help militaries integrate new equipment without rebuilding their entire communications infrastructure around a single platform.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The handbag would go on to become one of Fendi’s most celebrated designs.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of design
Noun
  • After a great box office run with a global cume of $224 million, The Social Network continues to be heralded as a masterpiece of its era.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In keeping with the film‘s maximalist vibe, the noise around it keeps whipsawing in different directions, with defenders calling it a misunderstood masterpiece and detractors equally fervent in calling it a complete artistic disaster.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of masterpiece

Browse Nearby Words

compositing
composition
compositions
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Cite this Entry

“Composition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/composition. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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