compile
Americanverb (used with object)
-
compiles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
compiled,
past participle, past
-
compiling
present participle
-
to put together (documents, selections, or other materials) in one book or work.
-
to make (a book, writing, or the like) of materials from various sources.
to compile an anthology of plays; to compile a graph showing changes in profit.
-
to gather together.
to compile data.
-
Computers. to translate (a computer program) from a high-level language into another language, usually machine language, using a compiler.
verb
-
to make or compose from other materials or sources
to compile a list of names
-
to collect or gather for a book, hobby, etc
-
computing to create (a set of machine instructions) from a high-level programming language, using a compiler
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
precompileverb (used with object)
-
recompileverb (used with object)
-
uncompiledadjective
-
well-compiledadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
compilesimple
-
compilessimple
-
have compiledperfect
-
has compiledperfect
-
am compilingprogressive
-
are compilingprogressive
-
is compilingprogressive
-
have been compilingperfect progressive
-
has been compilingperfect progressive
Past
-
compiledsimple
-
had compiledperfect
-
was compilingprogressive
-
were compilingprogressive
-
had been compilingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of compile
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin compīlāre “to rob, pillage, steal from another writer,” equivalent to com- “with” + -pīlāre, perhaps akin to pīla “column, pier,” pīlāre “to fix firmly, plant” (hence, “pile up, accumulate”); see com-, pile 1
Explanation
When you compile something, like a recipe-book or a mix-tape, you put it together using things that already exist (recipes, songs). Poetry anthologies, greatest-hits albums, and world-record books are all compilations, because they're made up of things that were originally published or released somewhere else. If you want to skip out on soccer practice one day, you might compile of list of excuses.
Vocabulary lists containing compile
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Artificial intelligence is also being used by bad actors for deepfake voice impersonations, more personalized “realistic” dialogue, and “data mashing” from various breaches to compile a hyperpersonalized profile of the would-be victim.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
States compile and maintain voter rolls, so only they have complete information about who is registered and casts ballots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
In a sermon delivered in Italian on Thursday at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the pope suggested machines lack a soul, saying they merely "compile data" quickly.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
She can compile reports and command the attention of the defence secretary and Parliament regarding issues she feels need exposure.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Mom decided that before she could get down to any serious painting, she needed to compile a thorough art reference library.
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
It also has a searchable public website that compiles public information on banks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
The heart-wrenching effort to locate victims continues online, on a government website that compiles information on survivors and the missing, alongside numerous pleas for help.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
GasBuddy compiles a daily list of the ten cheapest gas stations by city and offers an interactive map that allows you to search up prices at every station.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Robert Watts, who compiles the list, said this year's Rich List is "a tale of two exoduses".
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
When he’s finished, he compiles statistics and concludes confidently that a flea’s ears are in its back legs.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
To see the actual numbers, I used the long-term stock-market data compiled by Yale finance professor Robert Shiller, whose work on markets and valuations earned him the Nobel Prize in economics.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
Analysts had forecast quarterly sales at $3.01 billion, according to consensus estimates compiled by Vara.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
The largest collection of exploding white dwarf stars ever compiled is providing fresh evidence that dark energy, the mysterious force responsible for the Universe’s accelerating expansion, may change over time.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026
Freight costs have soared in recent weeks, making it far more expensive to move crude and oil products around the world, according to data compiled by the International Energy Agency.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
That preparation was critical as she put the abstract three-dimensional Cartesian plane to use in the service of the space technology lectures, which were eventually compiled in written form.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
On the other hand, when it comes to compiling a list of mail voters for USPS, Avore noted that these states are actually better suited than others to share that list.
From Slate ● Sep. 3, 2026
“It was wonderful compiling a list of all these marvelous movies for American Cinematheque,” Brooks said in a statement to The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Hong Kong's main tech stock index plans to include 20 more companies as well as artificial intelligence and robotics themes to reflect changes in the industry, the firm compiling it has said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
The central controversy of Arendt’s career concerned her claims about Jewish leaders’ roles in compiling lists and administering deportations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Not only was he compiling new codes for Army use, he was also teaching cryptography to Army officers, as well as breaking ciphers and codes on demand.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
