compose
Americanverb (used with object)
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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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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
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has composedperfect 3rd person singular
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have composedperfect
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have been composingperfect progressive
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has been composingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am composingprogressive 1st person singular
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are composingprogressive
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composessingular 3rd person
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is composingprogressive 3rd person singular
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composingparticiple
Past
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had composedperfect
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had been composingperfect progressive
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composedparticiple
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composedsimple
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were composingprogressive plural
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was composingprogressive singular
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.
Compose an initial draft of six to 10 questions of 50 words or less and, after feedback from advisers, publish them as a ranked list three months before the election.
From Salon • Dec. 7, 2024
Those wishing for snappier text messages can turn to a new assistant called Magic Compose that can transform more mundane prose into something sounding like William Shakespeare.
From Reuters • May 11, 2023
People who use Google products have likely already encountered the company’s Smart Compose tool that suggests text as a writer types in a document or new email.
From Washington Times • Mar. 14, 2023
For the end user, these systems work just like Gmails’ Smart Compose feature — suggesting ways to finish whatever you’re writing.
From The Verge • Feb. 2, 2022
Compose a sentence containing the word "insubordination."—Give the opposite of "insubordination"? Ans.
From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton
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.
