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
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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:
D’Ornano oversaw product research, helping to compose some of Sisley’s most iconic skin-care creams and scents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
Imagine thinking you're playing for Spurs and then for Man City, and then somehow you have to stay at Liverpool and compose yourself, and still perform.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 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
Fenton set Hopkins up with a keyboard loaded with samples of every instrument, and an internal switch was flipped: now the actor could compose for orchestra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
All told, it took me about an hour to compose myself.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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
Musician Labrinth has distanced himself from TV series Euphoria, for which he composes the music, and said he is "done with this industry".
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026
In the early number “Make a Wish,” Kimberly composes her letter to the Make a Wish foundation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 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
A spiral staircase in the living room leads up to an open space that composes much of the second floor.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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
The British singer, 27, composed and co-wrote the lyrics with Bastian Langebæk and Max Wolfgang, according to the song credits on Spotify.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
The FAA panel, composed of various internal experts, arrived at the determination that “because pilots retain full control of the aircraft, the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous,” the agency said Friday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 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
Soon after, Mrs. Reed grew more composed, and sank into a dozing state.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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
Batiste, in addition to his late-night TV work, is also known for composing original works for the soundtrack of Disney’s 2020 animated film “Soul.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
He didn’t like composing radio hooks or fronting a traditional band.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 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
Writing a set of variations is considered an excellent exercise for students interested in composing, arranging, and orchestration.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
