Word
composer
Phoneticscom·pos·er, stress on the second syllable
US/kəmˈpoʊzɝ/
UK/kəmpˈəʊzɐ/
Definitions
01music writer
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Music
n. a person who writes music, especially as a professional job.
n. a person who creates musical compositions, often involving the arrangement of melodies and harmonies for instruments or voices.
“The film composer spent months writing the perfect theme for the main character.”
“While many contemporary composers experiment with electronic sounds, others remain dedicated to the traditional orchestral forms of the nineteenth century.”
Usage
Often used with 'classical', 'film', or 'contemporary' to specify the genre of music written.
Synonyms
02author or creator
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal · Archaic
n. someone who creates or puts together a piece of writing or art.
n. a person who assembles or constructs a literary or artistic work; an author.
“The composer of this long poem lived hundreds of years ago.”
“In the formal preface, the composer of the text acknowledges the various sources that informed his historical analysis.”
Teaching tip
In modern English, this word almost exclusively refers to music. Using it for a writer of books or poems is very rare and sounds old-fashioned.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “composer” in context.
Verb
01. commission a composer
“The city council decided to commission a composer to write a piece for the anniversary.”
verb + noun
02. inspire a composer
“The beauty of the lake has inspired many composers over the centuries.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. celebrated composer
“The celebrated composer received a standing ovation at the end of the concert.”
adj + noun
04. contemporary composer
“The orchestra is dedicated to performing works by contemporary composers.”
adj + noun
05. prolific composer
“Ennio Morricone was a prolific composer who wrote scores for more than 400 films.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. composer of the opera
“The composer of the opera took a bow alongside the lead singers.”
noun + of + noun
07. film composer
“Hans Zimmer is perhaps the most famous film composer working in Hollywood today.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“The Song of Hiawatha, Black British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor ’s turn-of-the-century cantata trilogy, packed the Albert Hall for weeks on end between the wars, but it really shouldn’t work today .” “One hundred and fifty years after the composer launched the festival with the premiere of his epic Ring cycle, tickets for this summer’s edition sold out within 90 minutes.” Etymology
From compose + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/composer