comprise

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What It Means

Comprise is a verb that first meant "to be made up of (something); to include or consist of (something)." It still carries that meaning but today it also often means "to make up or form (something)," though some object to this use. Comprise can also mean "to include especially within a particular scope."

// The city developers' plans include a massive recreational complex that comprises a concert hall, four restaurants, two hotels, and a theater.

// Bamboo comprises the bulk of the giant panda's diet.

Examples

"The ballots are in, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2023 will comprise Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and the Spinners." — Al Shipley, SPIN, 3 May 2023

Did You Know?

The earliest meaning of comprise, "to be made up of" (as in "a team comprising nine players"), is sometimes regarded as the word's only correct use. However, this grammatical prescription denies a well-established sense of the word: "to compose or constitute" (as in "the nine players who comprise the team"). Until relatively recently, this sense appeared mostly in scientific writing, but current evidence shows that it is now somewhat more common in general use than the word's other meanings. You might be most familiar with this disputed use in the passive construction, "to be comprised of" (as in "a team comprised of nine players"). Apologies to the haters: a single sense simply can’t comprise comprise.

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