compose
Americanverb (used with object)
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composes,
present (3rd person singular)
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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:
Several times he had to stop singing to compose himself and, when the music stopped, he had to wipe tears from his eyes.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Vecna’s form is charred and the vines that compose his body can be seen pulsating like they are alive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
The state ostensibly has a “merit selection” system, in which nominating commissions compose lists of the most qualified applicants for judgeships, and the governor chooses from the list.
From Slate ● May 11, 2026
In about 2020, Armenta helped compose some songs for Angel Ureta, a friend who signed with Street Mob Records, founded by Fuerza Regida’s JOP.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
“Or would you like a few moments to compose an epitaph?”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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
This is the reverse of many professionals who edit—or copy and paste—whatever an AI tool composes in response to a prompt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025
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
Rich, 54, a decidedly stolid type who composes their music and plays guitar, recalled, “Hair metal was big.”
From New York Times ● Mar. 7, 2024
He composes chambers that lead into others that Celia has created.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Mr. Scholz composed nine of the LP’s 11 tracks, co-writing “Smokin’ ” with Delp, who penned “Let Me Take You Home Tonight.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Lewis, was overbooked, but knew Hopkins played piano and asked if he also composed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
After a serious incident, a committee composed of senior ICE officials and attorneys will review the footage and recommend whether it should be released.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Supersaturation increased as the aircraft sampled higher portions of the clouds, reaching about 10% at approximately −5°C. At that temperature, the updraft regions were still composed mainly of supercooled liquid droplets.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
Then the convicted assassin chanted verses he had composed a few hours before.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
His Disney Hall debut followed in early 2007, and that settled it for Salonen, who was eager to spend more time composing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 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
“I actually found it much easier than writing songs about myself. Having the permission to be silly and bratty was so freeing,” Hart said to The Quietus, discussing composing from Lestat’s perspective.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
They lie at a point corresponding to the narrow neck of a funnel, into which all the migratory paths composing what is known as the Pacific Flyway converge.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
