compose
Americanverb (used with object)
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composes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
composed,
past participle, past
-
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
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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:
Pillinger persuaded Britpop band Blur to compose a distinctive call-sign that Beagle 2 would transmit to Earth after landing.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
The Mirror's Lucy Needham, external noted that the singer was 50 minutes late to start, and may have needed extra time to "compose herself" for the "emotionally charged return".
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
A New Englander deeply influenced by his reading of the Transcendentalists, Ives went into the insurance business while continuing to compose music, though his compositions weren’t widely performed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Selines has two younger siblings she’s helped raise; one of whom helped her compose the synth-fueled track “Universe.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
“Well, yeah. And obviously, you’re going to compose the score.”
From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks
In most places in Europe, tax composes 50%-60% of the retail price of fuel, according to Rob Smith, S&P Energy’s director of global fuel retail.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
He said “the president occupies a unique position in the constitutional scheme, the only person who alone composes a branch of government.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024
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
My dad goes to open it, but not before he takes a deep breath and composes himself.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
On Monday, Monte dei Paschi’s board said the Intesa proposal still means its shareholders would be exposed to Intesa’s performance, as the proposed consideration remains mostly composed of shares.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
During the 1950s and 60s, Sir Paul lived with his family at 20 Forthlin Road in Allerton, Liverpool, and composed some of the earliest Beatles' tracks with John Lennon there.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
In recent years, AEW has pitched itself as an antidote to the WWE, but its roster is also almost entirely composed of independent contractors.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
In Kingsolver’s latest, a farm wife named Livia Cable has her quietly composed life blown open by a phone call from her days as a brilliant pianist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Having composed himself, Helmuth said to the court, “I haven’t committed any crime. All I’ve done is tell the truth.”
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
He was unappreciated for much of his life—even hissed at in performance—and at times gave up composing entirely.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Duncan Sheik, who earned a Grammy nomination for his ubiquitous 1990s hit “Barely Breathing” and won a Tony Award for composing the music for “Spring Awakening,” died Thursday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
You're finally about to head off on a well-earned break, but there's one more task to tick off your to-do list: composing an out-of-office reply.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
He was speaking from the shaded courtyard garden of his Mayer am Pfarrplatz heuriger, down the steps from the room where Beethoven stayed while composing part of the Ninth Symphony.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
In addition to composing devotional songs, including a setting for the Psalms and Proverbs, he carried out an international music ministry.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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