Meaning & use
to compose
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“to compose” is a form of “compose”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
To write or create a piece of music, a poem, or a formal text.
Grammar: Takes an object naming the work: compose a symphony, compose a letter.
Patterns
- compose a piece of music
- compose a poem
- compose a letter
She composed a short piano piece for her sister's wedding.
He composed several poems during his years abroad.
The committee asked him to compose an official reply to the complaint.
verbtransitiveformal
To be the parts that form something; to make up a whole.
Grammar: Often used in the passive with 'of': the team is composed of ten players.
Patterns
- be composed of something
- compose something
Women compose about half of the workforce in this industry.
The island is composed mainly of volcanic rock.
Twelve members compose the judging panel.
verbtransitive
To make yourself calm and get your feelings under control.
Grammar: Almost always used as 'compose yourself'; often appears as the adjective 'composed'.
Patterns
- compose yourself
She took a deep breath to compose herself before the interview.
He struggled to compose himself after hearing the news.
Word forms
| third person singular | composes |
|---|---|
| past tense | composed |
| past participle | composed |
| -ing form | composing |
Common combinations
- compose music
- He spends his evenings composing music in a small studio.
- be composed of
- The course is composed of ten short modules.
- compose yourself
- She paused to compose herself before answering.
- compose a letter
- I composed a careful letter to the bank.
- calmly composed
- He stayed calmly composed throughout the questioning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- write
- Use 'write' for books, reports, and songs in general; 'compose' sounds more formal and is usual for music and careful, crafted texts.
- create
- 'Create' is broader and can cover art, designs, and ideas, while 'compose' is mostly about music, poems, or formal writing.
- make up
- 'Make up' is the everyday phrasal verb for forming a whole; 'compose' in this sense is more formal and often passive.
- calm
- 'Calm yourself' is more everyday for settling emotions; 'compose yourself' suggests regaining a formal, controlled manner.
Opposites
Word family
- composer noun
- a person who writes music
- composition noun
- a piece of music or writing, or the way parts are put together
- composed adjective
- calm and in control of your feelings
- composure noun
- the state of being calm and controlled
Commonly confused: to compose or comprise? to compose or compost?
to compose vs comprise
'Comprise' means 'consist of' and takes the whole as its subject: 'The team comprises ten players.' Do not say 'is comprised of' in careful writing; use 'is composed of' instead.
to compose vs compost
'Compost' is decaying plant material used in gardens; it sounds similar but has nothing to do with writing or music.
Practice
The new safety committee is ______ of five engineers and two lawyers.
Choose one answer.
'Is composed of' is the fixed passive pattern meaning 'is made up of'. 'Composing' would suggest the committee is actively writing something, and 'compose' or 'composes' cannot follow 'is' in this structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to compose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.