Comprise

//kəmˈpɹaɪz// verb

verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To be made up of; to consist of (especially a comprehensive list of parts). transitive

    "Near-synonyms: subsume, contain, include, embrace, comprehend"

  2. 2
    form or compose wordnet
  3. 3
    To compose; to constitute. passive, proscribed, sometimes, usually

    "Near-synonym: make up"

  4. 4
    include or contain; have as a component wordnet
  5. 5
    To include, contain, or be made up of, defining the minimum elements, whether essential or inessential to define an invention.

    "(close-ended)"

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    be composed of wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
make upcontainincorporateaccoupleaccumulateadd

Example

More examples

"It is beyond the scope of the present work to describe all the components that comprise Emmet's architectural style."

Etymology

From Middle English comprisen, from Old French compris, past participle of comprendre, from Latin comprehendere, contr. comprendere, past participle comprehensus (“to comprehend”); see comprehend. Compare apprise, reprise, surprise.

Related phrases

make up

More for "comprise"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.