comprise

[kuhm-prahyz]

verb (used with object)

comprised, comprising 

1. to include or contain.

   The Soviet Union comprised several socialist republics.

2. to consist of; be composed of.

   The advisory board comprises six members.

3. to form or constitute.

   Seminars and lectures comprised the day's activities.

comprise

/ kəmˈpraɪz /

verb

1. to include; contain

2. to constitute the whole of; consist of

   her singing comprised the entertainment

Usage

The use of of after comprise should be avoided: the library comprises (not comprises of ) 500 000 books and manuscripts

Other Word Forms

• comprisal noun
• comprisable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprise¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English comprisen, from Middle French compris (past participle of comprendre ), from Latin comprehēnsus; comprehension

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprise¹

C15: from French compris included, understood, from comprendre to _comprehend

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be comprised of, to consist of; be composed of.

   The sales network is comprised of independent outlets and chain stores.

Synonym Study

See include.

Example Sentences

Eight of the nine men named in Friday’s purge announcement, including He and Miao, were members of the Central Committee, which comprised 376 full members and nonvoting alternates when its current term started in 2022.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The image below, comprised of satellite photos captured by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite, shows the state from space on Sunday, left and again on Thursday, right.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The endowment comprises $40.8 billion of the $47.7 billion investment pool, which also includes the capital reserves of Stanford Health Care and Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, and other long-term funds, the university said.

Read more on Barron's

In August, the services sector, which comprises the lion’s share of the British economy, showed no growth for a second-straight month, though industrial production grew 0.4%, flipping the equivalent fall from July.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"More of the component comprised of shares and other instruments can now be deferred, which helps promote responsible risk-taking," the statement added.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• amount to 
• compose 
• constitute 
• contain 
• cover 
• encompass 
• form 
• hold 
• include 
• involve 
• span