Jane JacobsWilliam StyronJimmy CarterThe Times Literary Supplement (London)
Comprise vs. Compose: Usage Guide
Although it has been in use since the late 18th century, sense 2 is still attacked as wrong. Why it has been singled out is not clear, but until comparatively recent times it was found chiefly in scientific or technical writing rather than belles lettres. Our current evidence shows a slight shift in usage: sense 2 is somewhat more frequent in recent literary use than the earlier senses. You should be aware, however, that if you use sense 2 you may be subject to criticism for doing so, and you may want to choose a safer synonym such as compose or make up.
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The earliest meaning of comprise, "to be made up of" (as in "a team comprising nine players"), is sometimes regarded as the word's only correct use. However, this grammatical prescription denies a well-established sense of the word: "to compose or constitute" (as in "the nine players who comprise the team"). Until relatively recently, this sense appeared mostly in scientific writing, but current evidence shows that it is now somewhat more common in general use than the word's other meanings. You might be most familiar with this disputed use in the passive construction, "to be comprised of" (as in "a team comprised of nine players"). Apologies to the haters: a single sense simply can’t comprise comprise.
Examples of comprise in a Sentence
Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
The 27-title World Focus section comprises ten contemporary titles, selected globally, an Arturo Ripstein retrospective and a trio of Nanni Moretti pictures and a five-film look-back at Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 Sep. 2024
Originally built in 1951, the 6,000-square-foot spread comprises five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2024
Channel Islands National Park comprises five islands off the Southern California coast.
—Kate Murphy, Axios, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for comprise 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comprise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near comprise
Cite this Entry
“Comprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprise. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
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comprise
verb
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