constitute
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to compose; form.
mortar constituted of lime and sand.
-
to appoint to an office or function; make or create.
He was constituted treasurer.
-
to establish (laws, an institution, etc.).
- Synonyms:
- commission, institute
-
to give legal form to (an assembly, court, etc.).
-
to create or be tantamount to.
Imports constitute a challenge to local goods.
-
Archaic. to set or place.
verb
-
to make up; form; compose
the people who constitute a jury
-
to appoint to an office or function
a legally constituted officer
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to set up (a school or other institution) formally; found
-
law to give legal form to (a court, assembly, etc)
-
obsolete law to set up or enact (a law)
Other Word Forms
- constituter noun
- constitutor noun
- nonconstituted adjective
- preconstitute verb (used with object)
- self-constituted adjective
- self-constituting adjective
- unconstituted adjective
- well-constituted adjective
Etymology
Origin of constitute
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin constitūtus, past participle of constituere “to set up, found”; constituent
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.
In its decision, the court concluded "that the interruption of access to the TikTok platform constitutes a restriction of freedom of expression and freedom of the press".
From Barron's
What constitutes a threat is context-specific, but systems developed in one context inevitably carry their initial assumptions to their new location.
From Salon
Janus Henderson said Wednesday the board determined the offer doesn’t constitute a “superior proposal” under the terms of its existing merger agreement, citing significant closing risks and uncertain value.
He remains under police investigation, but last week his lawyers said his passport had been returned by the Metropolitan Police, adding that he did not constitute a flight risk.
From BBC
"Its primary purpose is to prevent assistance to the enemy during wartime, which constitutes a tangible threat to state security," he said.
From Barron's
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.
