comprise

/kəmˈpraɪz/ formal

Say it: kum-PRIZE

1. verb To be made up of or consist of a set of parts.
The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
2. verb To make up or constitute a whole.
The nine players who comprise the team are all exceptionally talented.
3. verb To include or contain within a larger scope or class.
The curriculum comprises a wide range of subjects, from mathematics to art history.

📖 Seen in the wild

The United States comprises fifty states.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ comprise in a sentence

The new software suite comprises a word processor, a spreadsheet program, and a presentation tool.
His personal library comprises more than three thousand books.
The task force comprises representatives from every major department.
These three key arguments comprise the foundation of her thesis.
The exhibition will comprise works from both established and emerging artists.
According to the report, the company's assets comprise property, investments, and intellectual property rights.
The solar system comprises the Sun and the objects that orbit it.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

consist of be composed of include contain encompass involve embody constitute make up

consist of · a very close synonym, but requires the preposition 'of'.

be composed of · emphasizes that the parts were put together to form the whole.

include · suggests the list of parts may not be complete or exhaustive.

contain · implies holding something within, rather than being the sum of its parts.

Opposites: exclude, omit, preclude, lack

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'comprise' entered English from French in the 15th century, tracing back to the Latin 'comprehendere', which means 'to seize' or 'to include'. This shared root with 'comprehend' highlights its core idea of grasping or containing all the parts that make up a whole.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

the committee comprisesthe collection comprisesthe group comprisescomprise a total ofcomprise the majority of

The most common point of confusion with 'comprise' involves its two main uses and a frequent error. Traditionally, the whole comprises the parts (The USA comprises 50 states). A second, now common usage is for the parts to comprise the whole (50 states comprise the USA). Many editors and style guides strongly advise against the phrase 'is comprised of', recommending 'is composed of' or 'consists of' instead.

Word family: comprise, comprising

💬 Quick answers

What does 'comprise' mean?

Comprise means to be made up of parts or to consist of. For example, a team comprises its players.

Is it correct to say 'is comprised of'?

While very common in speech, 'is comprised of' is considered an error by many style guides. It is safer to use 'consists of', 'is composed of', or to rephrase the sentence, such as 'The team comprises nine players'.

What is the difference between 'comprise' and 'compose'?

Traditionally, the whole comprises the parts, while the parts compose the whole. For example, 'The band comprises four members' and 'Four members compose the band'.

Is 'comprise' a formal word?

Yes, 'comprise' is generally considered a formal word. In casual conversation, people are more likely to use 'be made up of' or 'include'.

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