comprise
11 synonyms and 2 antonyms for comprise, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To consist of or be made up of particular parts.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
consist of
make up
Antonyms
How to use comprise
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
comprise of (informal)
comprise the whole
Etymology
From Old French comprendre ("to include"), ultimately from Latin comprehendere — see "comprehend."
Full origin of comprise →Frequently asked questions
What does “comprise” mean?
The word “comprise” means to consist of or be made up of particular parts. In plain terms, to be composed of certain parts, or (less strictly) for those parts to make up the whole.
How do you pronounce “comprise”?
“Comprise” is pronounced kuhm-PRYZ (/kəmˈpɹaɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “comprise” in a sentence?
Here is “comprise” used in a sentence: “The committee comprises twelve elected members.”
What is another word for “comprise”?
Words with a similar meaning to “comprise” include make up.
What part of speech is “comprise”?
“Comprise” is a verb.
Where does the word “comprise” come from?
The word “comprise” comes from Latin. From Old French comprendre ("to include"), ultimately from Latin comprehendere — see "comprehend.".
Is “comprise” a common word?
“Comprise” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “comprise” have?
“Comprise” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to consist of or be made up of particular parts.
What is the difference between "comprise" and "compose"?
"Comprise" means the whole consists of its parts, so the subject is the whole thing ("The team comprises five players"). "Compose" works the opposite way, with the parts as the subject ("Five players compose the team"). Mixing them up, as in "comprised of," is common but considered nonstandard by many style guides.
Is "comprised of" correct?
Many usage guides consider "comprised of" incorrect because "comprise" already means "to consist of," making "of" redundant. The traditionally correct forms are "the whole comprises the parts" or "the whole is composed of the parts." That said, "comprised of" is widely used in everyday speech and writing despite the objection.
Can "comprise" be used interchangeably with "include"?
Not quite: "comprise" implies a complete listing of all the parts that make up a whole, while "include" only implies some of the parts, not necessarily all of them. Saying a book "comprises ten chapters" means it has exactly ten, whereas "includes ten chapters" leaves open whether there are more.
