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.
Did you know?
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
Joohee Cho, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2025
The decades since then have produced eight additional Star Wars movies (comprising a prequel trilogy, a sequel trilogy, and multiple one-offs) and several TV shows.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 4 Jan. 2025
The two-story home, being sold furnished, comprises two wings connected by an airy hallway.
—Roxana Popescu, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
That comprised half the Sunday midday games last week.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for comprise 
Dictionary Entries Near comprise
Cite this Entry
“Comprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprise. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
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