compute
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to reckon; calculate.
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to use a computer or calculator.
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Informal. to make sense; add up.
His reasons for doing that just don't compute.
noun
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Outer space is vast beyond compute.
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the processing, memory, and storage resources required for a computer, network, or program to function.
To meet today's business demands, you need a solid foundation of compute.
adjective
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of compute
First recorded in 1375–1425, for an earlier sense; 1580–90 compute for def. 6; (for the verb) from Latin computāre, from com- com- + putāre “to think”; (for the noun) late Middle English from Middle French from Late Latin computus “calculation, number,” noun derivative of computāre; cf. count 1, putative
Explanation
When you solve a mathematical problem, you compute the answer. To compute is to calculate, either literally or figuratively. Computers do the math for you, faster than humans ever can. You'll often hear someone say that something "does not compute." This means it doesn't add up, it doesn't make sense. You might compute how long it will take you to get to school or the likelihood that your mother will let you stay out late.
Vocabulary lists containing compute
Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 4
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The Number System
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Number and Operations: Fractions
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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.
Blackstone will be the majority owner, people familiar with the matter said, and is expected to support around $25 billion in compute investments including leverage.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
It’s also a massive savings in terms of efficiency and compute, according to Khan.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
The stellar results come a day after Nebius announced it would add the core engineering and research team from AI lab Clarifai and license the company’s compute technology.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
He added: “Two years ago, most companies thought about compute primarily as a procurement issue. Today, it’s increasingly being managed like a strategic commodity exposure with real implications for pricing, capital planning and growth.”
From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026
He just didn’t get it; his brain was on overload trying to compute the sheer impossibility of the situation.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
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.
