ENGLISH
REFERENCE

constitute

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈkɑnstəˌtut// UK //kˈɒnstɪtjˌuːt// con·sti·tute Academic Archaic

v. to be the parts that make up a whole thing. You use this when saying that several smaller things together form one larger group or system.

v. to be the components or elements that form a whole; to make up or compose. Often used in formal or legal contexts to define the status or composition of an entity.


SIMPLE

Twelve people constitute a full jury in this court.

CONTEXTUAL

The various departments that constitute the university must coordinate their budgets every spring.

COMPLEX

While individual protests may seem isolated, together they constitute a significant challenge to the current administration's environmental policies.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English constituten, from Latin cōnstitūtum, neuter of cōnstitūtus, past participle of Latin cōnstituō (“to put in place; set up; establish”), from con- (“with”) + statuō (“to put up; establish”).

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; it is frequently used in the active voice in academic writing.

Pitfall

The team is constituted by five membersFive members constitute the teamLearners often use 'constitute' in the passive voice with 'by', but in active usage, the parts are the subject and the whole is the object.

© 2026 English Reference