Meaning & use
composed
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Calm and in control of your feelings, especially when a situation is stressful.
Grammar: Can follow a linking verb or come before a noun: she stayed composed, a composed reply.
Patterns
- remain composed
- look composed
Despite the noise, the speaker remained composed.
He gave a composed answer even though the questions were hostile.
She looked composed as she walked onto the stage.
adjectiveafter a verbformal
Made up of particular parts or elements.
Grammar: Almost always used with of: a team composed of volunteers.
Patterns
- be composed of something
The committee is composed of five teachers and two parents.
Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
The band was composed mainly of university students.
Word forms
| comparative | more composed |
|---|---|
| superlative | most composed |
Common combinations
- remain composed
- The pilot remained composed during the emergency.
- appear composed
- She appeared composed despite her nerves.
- composed of
- The jury is composed of twelve citizens.
- a composed manner
- He answered in a composed manner.
- stay composed under pressure
- Good nurses stay composed under pressure.
Synonyms and how they differ
- calm
- Calm describes a peaceful state, while composed suggests deliberate self-control, often in a tense moment.
- collected
- Collected is very close in meaning but is used a little less often and sounds slightly old-fashioned.
- poised
- Poised adds an idea of graceful confidence in how someone carries themselves.
- unruffled
- Unruffled stresses that nothing upset the person, whereas composed can mean they hid upset.
Opposites
Word family
- compose verb
- to create music or writing, or to make up a whole
- composure noun
- calm control of your feelings
- composedly adverb
- in a calm and controlled way
- composition noun
- the way something is made up, or a piece of music or writing
Commonly confused: composed or comprised?
composed vs comprised
Comprised of is often used instead of composed of, but careful writers prefer composed of, since the whole comprises the parts.
Practice
The panel is ___ of doctors, nurses and administrators.
Choose one answer.
Be composed of is the standard pattern meaning made up of. Consisted needs of in an active form, not a passive, and comprised of is considered less careful.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “composed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.