Jane JacobsWilliam StyronThomas GaseNote: Despite strong and continued objections to it, this meaning of comprise is now more frequent in general use than its earlier meaning. It is particularly common in the construction "to be comprised of," as in "The debate team is comprised of five members."
Herman Melville
Comprise vs. Compose: Usage Guide
Although it has been in use since the late 18th century, sense 2 is still attacked as wrong. Why it has been singled out is not clear, but until comparatively recent times it was found chiefly in scientific or technical writing rather than belles lettres. Our current evidence shows a slight shift in usage: sense 2 is somewhat more frequent in recent literary use than the earlier senses. You should be aware, however, that if you use sense 2 you may be subject to criticism for doing so, and you may want to choose a safer synonym such as compose or make up.
Did you know?
The earliest meaning of comprise, "to be made up of" (as in "a team comprising nine players"), is sometimes regarded as the word's only correct use. However, this grammatical prescription denies a well-established sense of the word: "to compose or constitute" (as in "the nine players who comprise the team"). Until relatively recently, this sense appeared mostly in scientific writing, but current evidence shows that it is now somewhat more common in general use than the word's other meanings. You might be most familiar with this disputed use in the passive construction, "to be comprised of" (as in "a team comprised of nine players"). Apologies to the haters: a single sense simply can’t comprise comprise.
Examples of comprise in a Sentence
Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 15 Feb. 2026
Its milestone Berlin 2026 contingent — comprising three feature film premieres, two of which are competing for the Golden Bear — kicks off the campaign.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Chicago Public Schools comprise a vast, labyrinthine system boasting over 316,000 students across 630 locations.
—Jerel Ezell, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2026
The Greenpoint is an excellent neo-classic riff on a Manhattan that was invented at Milk & Honey in New York, and comprises the classic build of Manhattan—rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters—into which has been spliced the inimitable French herbal liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comprise
Cite this Entry
“Comprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprise. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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comprise
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