Meaning & use
constituted
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“constituted” is a form of “constitute”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Formed the parts or total of something; was the thing that something is built from or equal to.
Grammar: Takes an object and is not used in continuous tenses: young people constituted most of the crowd.
Patterns
- something constitutes something
- be constituted of something
Volunteers constituted nearly half of the staff at the shelter.
The three scientists who signed the letter constituted the entire review board.
Fine particles of dust constituted most of the haze over the valley.
verbtransitiveformal
Counted as or amounted to something, especially when judged by a rule or standard.
Grammar: Often introduces a judgment: the delay constituted a breach of contract.
Patterns
- something constitutes a breach
- something constitutes evidence
The court decided that the message constituted a threat.
Her silence was taken to have constituted agreement.
Whether the gift constituted a bribe was the main question at the trial.
verbtransitiveformallegal
Set up a committee, court or organization officially, giving it its legal form and powers.
Grammar: Usually passive: the tribunal was constituted by an act of parliament.
Patterns
- be constituted by something
- something is constituted as something
The commission was constituted under a law passed in 1998.
Once the board was properly constituted, it met to elect a chair.
The new assembly was constituted as an independent body.
Word forms
| third person singular | constitutes |
|---|---|
| past tense | constituted |
| past participle | constituted |
| -ing form | constituting |
Common combinations
- constituted a breach
- The late payment constituted a breach of the agreement.
- constituted a majority
- Women constituted a majority of the graduating class.
- properly constituted
- The meeting was not properly constituted, so the vote was void.
- constituted a threat
- The judge ruled that his words constituted a threat.
- legally constituted
- Only a legally constituted body can sign such a contract.
Synonyms and how they differ
- comprised
- Comprised is usually followed by the parts, while constituted names the whole as being made of or equal to its parts, so the two often flip the sentence around.
- formed
- Formed is plainer and everyday, whereas constituted sounds official and suits legal or analytical writing.
- amounted to
- Amounted to stresses the total effect or result, while constituted often judges whether something fits a legal or formal category.
- established
- Established fits the setting-up sense and can apply to anything, while constituted points to giving a body its formal structure and powers.
Word family
- constitute verb
- to make up or amount to something
- constitution noun
- the basic laws of a state, or a person's physical makeup
- constitutional adjective
- relating to a constitution
- constituent noun
- a part of a whole, or a voter in an area
Commonly confused: constituted or consisted?
constituted vs consisted
Consisted is always followed by of or in and describes what something is made from; constituted can take a direct object and say what the parts make up.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'constituted' correctly?
Choose one answer.
In the sense of 'make up', constituted takes a direct object and no preposition. The 'of' version belongs to consisted, and the continuous form is avoided with this sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “constituted”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.