Word
comprise
Phoneticscom·prise, stress on the second syllable
US/kəmˈpɹaɪz/
UK/kəmpɹˈaɪz/
Definitions
01to consist of
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic · Formal
v. to be made up of several different things or people.
v. to be composed of or consist of specific parts or members. In strict formal usage, the whole comprises the parts.
“The country comprises twenty different states, each with its own local government.”
“The final report comprises five distinct sections, ranging from the initial methodology to the long-term policy recommendations.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'of'.
Pitfall
The team is comprised of ten players.
The team comprises ten players.
In traditional formal writing, 'comprise' is used in the active voice without 'of'. While 'is comprised of' is common in speech, many writers prefer 'is composed of' or simply 'comprises'.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse 'comprise' with 'compose'. A helpful rule: the whole comprises the parts, but the parts compose the whole.
02to make up a whole
C1 · Advanced General-service
v. to be the parts that form a larger group or thing.
v. to constitute or make up a whole. This sense is often considered less formal than the 'consist of' sense.
“Older people comprise a large part of the local population.”
“Minority groups comprise nearly forty percent of the student body, reflecting the diverse nature of the surrounding urban community.”
Usage
In this sense, the parts are the subject and the whole is the object.
Teaching tip
While common in modern English, some strict grammarians still prefer 'constitute' for this meaning.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “comprise” in context.
Verb
01. comprise group
“Ten distinct species comprise the group of animals studied in this research.”
verb + noun
02. comprise item
“Several rare artifacts comprise the items currently on display at the museum.”
verb + noun
03. comprise number
“Older residents comprise a large number of the local population.”
verb + noun
Noun
04. group comprise
“The committee is a diverse group comprised of experts from various fields.”
noun + verb
Confusables
Comprise describes the whole containing the parts, while compose describes the parts forming the whole.
RememberThe whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole.
Real-World Examples
“It comprised 500 text samples from media, religion, fiction, science and other sources, each containing approximately 2,000 words.” “Novelist Andrew O’Hagan’s new book comprises eight brief essays reworked from a series recorded last year for Radio 4.” Etymology
From Middle English comprisen, from Old French compris, past participle of comprendre, from Latin comprehendere, contr. comprendere, past participle comprehensus (“to comprehend”); see comprehend. Compare apprise, reprise, surprise.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
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