compose
Americanverb (used with object)
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composes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
composed,
past participle, past
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composing
present participle
-
to make or form by combining things, parts, or elements.
He composed his speech from many research notes.
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to be or constitute a part or element of.
a rich sauce composed of many ingredients.
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to make up or form the basis of.
Style composes the essence of good writing.
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to put or dispose in proper form or order.
to compose laws into a coherent system.
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Art. to organize the parts or elements of (a picture or the like).
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to create (a musical, literary, or choreographic work).
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to end or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.).
The union and management composed their differences.
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to bring (oneself, one's mind, etc.) to a condition of calmness, repose, etc.; calm; quiet.
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Printing.
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to set (type).
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to set type for (an article, book, etc.).
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verb (used without object)
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composes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
composed,
past participle, past
-
composing
present participle
-
to engage in composition, especially musical composition.
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to enter into composition; fall into an arrangement.
a scene that composes well.
verb
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to put together or make up by combining; put in proper order
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to be the component elements of
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to produce or create (a musical or literary work)
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(intr) to write music
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to calm (someone, esp oneself); make quiet
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to adjust or settle (a quarrel, etc)
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to order the elements of (a painting, sculpture, etc); design
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printing to set up (type)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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composesimple
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composessimple
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have composedperfect
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has composedperfect
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am composingprogressive
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are composingprogressive
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is composingprogressive
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have been composingperfect progressive
-
has been composingperfect progressive
Past
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composedsimple
-
had composedperfect
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was composingprogressive
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were composingprogressive
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had been composingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of compose
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Middle French word composer. See com-, pose 1
Explanation
To compose is to put something together, like a song, poem, or even yourself. You might want to compose yourself before returning to the party after a good cry. The word compose began with the Latin ponere, which means "to put, place," referring to placing or arranging any piece of work. It's been in the music business since the 1590s, and it's generally still used to describe the act of writing songs. But you can use it whenever you're pulling something together: you might compose an essay for English class, or notice that the class is composed of all girls.
Vocabulary lists containing compose
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 5
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List 5
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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:
Last year, he became the first Indian to compose and perform a Western classical symphony in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which described it as a "milestone in global music history".
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
Vecna’s form is charred and the vines that compose his body can be seen pulsating like they are alive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
The state ostensibly has a “merit selection” system, in which nominating commissions compose lists of the most qualified applicants for judgeships, and the governor chooses from the list.
From Slate ● May 11, 2026
By age 18, he would compose one of his first R&B songs, titled “Dame” — though the tenderly sung track wouldn’t be published until two years later.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
As soon as the broadcast ended, listeners sat down to compose letters of complaint or praise.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
This is the reverse of many professionals who edit—or copy and paste—whatever an AI tool composes in response to a prompt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025
He specifically cites the way Pop Crave composes its posts, saying that there is specific psychology to the way its feed operates and rallies its massive follower base.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2024
He composes his songs at home - which are no longer than a minute long as he gets out of breath easily - and his sets last just 30 minutes.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2024
“Jawole composes like an improviser, always leaving room for the spirit,” he said.
From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2024
My self is a thing I must now compose, as one composes a speech.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
"The Smyrnaeans have the river Meles, with its lovely water, and at its springs is the grotto, where they say Homer composed his poems," wrote the 2nd-century Greek chronicler and geographer Pausanias.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
Bannister’s career spanned from his screen debut in Coscarelli’s first feature “Jim the World’s Greatest” in 1975 to his final role in “Killer Waves 2” in 2020” and was primarily composed of independent productions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
But that sounds more composed than I actually feel.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
In a military composed mostly of non-infantry and noncombat personnel, testosterone is predominantly a quality-of-life issue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
For more advanced children, create a choreographed and composed piece from the game.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
His Disney Hall debut followed in early 2007, and that settled it for Salonen, who was eager to spend more time composing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
He didn’t like composing radio hooks or fronting a traditional band.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
“I actually found it much easier than writing songs about myself. Having the permission to be silly and bratty was so freeing,” Hart said to The Quietus, discussing composing from Lestat’s perspective.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Tech firms are racing to roll out advanced smartphones that use artificial intelligence to do everything from ordering food to composing messages upon a simple voice command.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
Andrew Brown’s print shop smelled of ink and grease and the sweat of muscular apprentices carrying trays of lead type from the composing table to the printing press.
From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Definitions 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.
