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

Each reef, installed Tuesday at Lake Norman State Park in Iredell County and Wednesday at Beatty’s Ford Access in Lincoln County, is composed of 24 FishHouse modules. — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

Emmy-winning composer David Fleming (Widow’s Bay, Superman, HBO’s The Last of Us) was also revealed as the game’s composer, marking his video game composing debut with the main title theme, Logan, now available on all music platforms. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 23 July 2026

Rushdie, 79, was composed and straightforward during little more than an hour on the witness stand. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

The cast is led by Lena Trifunović, Andrija Krivokapić, Irina Hotomski, Stefan Tarabić, Nataša Čakardić and Miodrag Dragičević, and is composed primarily of non-professional actors, with the exception of Dragičević playing Lena’s brother. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 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