# comprise

/kəmˈpɹaɪz/ (US) · /kəmpɹˈaɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/comprise
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to consist of

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic · Formal

to be made up of several different things or people.

For teachers: 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'.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse 'comprise' with 'compose'. A helpful rule: the whole comprises the parts, but the parts compose the whole.

### 2. to make up a whole

verb · CEFR C1 · General-service

to be the parts that form a larger group or thing.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The team comprises ten players and two coaches.
- The final report will comprise three main sections: the introduction, the data analysis, and the conclusion.
- The national park comprises a diverse range of ecosystems, including ancient wetlands, dense pine forests, and rugged coastal cliffs that support several endangered species.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.