comprise
verb
Simple meaning
To compose; to constitute.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
kuhmpryzSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
kəmpˈɹaɪz
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
sometimes proscribedusually in the passive
To compose; to constitute.
patent law
To include, contain, or be made up of, defining the minimum elements, whether essential or inessential to define an invention.
transitive
To be made up of; to consist of (especially a comprehensive list of parts).
patent law
Include or contain; have as a component
“A totally new idea is comprised in this paper.”
Form or compose
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: (sometimes proscribed, usually in the passive) To compose; to constitute.
Used this way, comprise is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use comprise
- “The land he conquered comprised several provinces.”verb
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Similar Words, What’s the Difference?
Close in meaning, but not always interchangeable.
Form or compose.
To constitute, to compose.
To pass or spend (time).
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Collections with this word
Themed sets you can browse for free.
Use it yourself
Knowing “comprise” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.