compose

verb

com·​pose kəm-ˈpōz 

composed; composing

transitive verb

1

a

: to form by putting together : fashion

… a committee composed of three representatives …

—Current Biography

b

: to form the substance of : constitute

composed of many ingredients

c

: to produce (columns, pages of type, etc.) by composition

2

a

: to create by mental or artistic labor : produce

compose a sonnet

b(1)

: to formulate and write (a piece of music)

composed a symphony

(2)

: to compose music for

3

: to deal with or act on so as to reduce to a minimum

compose their differences

4

: to arrange in proper or orderly form

The two men had laid him on the bed, and composed his limbs.

—Sheridan Le Fanu

5

: to free from agitation : calm, settle

I breathed deeply to compose myself.

Life moves on, … and one must compose oneself to meet it …

—Rose Macaulay

intransitive verb

: to practice composition (as of literary, musical, or typographical work)

At the age of 10, he was composing at the piano.

Synonyms of compose

• prepare
• write
• draft

Examples of compose in a Sentence

She composed a letter to her sister.

He is in his studio composing.

Recent Examples on the Web

This documentary drama, created by Elizabeth Marvel and director Lee Sunday Evans, is composed from the verbatim transcripts of these painful proceedings. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Sheik subsequently composed music for several other stage productions, including American Psycho, based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, and Alice by Heart, a Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland adaptation set in London during World War II. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026

The actress starred in Spring Awakening, which was composed by Sheik who won two Tonys in 2007 — Best Original Score, alongside Steven Sater, and Best Orchestrations — for the musical. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026

But Simon’s project is not so much a biography of the agent as a sprawling mosaic composed of more than 1,000 photographs presented alongside thousands more words of text, only some of which come from Simon’s interviews with him. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French composer, from Latin componere (perfect indicative composui) — more at compound

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for compose

• aloes
• arose
• bestows
• boroughs
• buboes
• cargoes
• cocos
• compos
• crossbows
• demos
• depose
• disclose

Kids Definition

compose

verb

com·​pose kəm-ˈpōz 

composed; composing

1

a

: to form by putting together : fashion

b

: to form the substance of : constitute

a stew composed of many ingredients

c

: to arrange type in order for printing : set

2

: to create by mental or artistic labor

compose a song

3

: to arrange in proper form

4

: to make calm

composed himself

compose your feelings