comprise
B2Formal to neutral. Common in written, descriptive, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to be made up of or include parts or members.
To constitute or form a whole from the union of parts; also, less commonly, to be contained within as a part of a whole.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The traditional rule states that 'comprise' means 'to be made up of' (the whole comprises the parts). The use in the passive voice to mean 'be composed of' ('The team is comprised of experts') is common but often criticized in formal writing as incorrect, where 'composed of' or 'consists of' is preferred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties traditionally observe the 'whole comprises parts' rule, but the 'is comprised of' usage is frequently seen in both. There is little significant difference in usage or acceptance between varieties.
Connotations
No strong connotative differences. The word carries a slightly formal, precise, or authoritative tone in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent and used with the same meanings in formal and academic writing in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[WHOLE] + comprise(s) + [PARTS] (The book comprises ten chapters.)[WHOLE] + is comprised of + [PARTS] (common but often proscribed)[PARTS] + constitute + [WHOLE] (preferred synonym for clarity)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'comprise']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe the structure of a team, portfolio, or market: 'The investment portfolio comprises bonds, equities, and real estate.'
Academic
Frequent in describing the components of a system, study sample, or theoretical model: 'The dataset comprises responses from 500 participants.'
Everyday
Less common in casual speech; 'made up of' or 'has' are preferred. Might be used in descriptions: 'The flat comprises two bedrooms and a living area.'
Technical
Precise use in engineering, science, and law to list components: 'The assembly comprises a housing, a rotor, and a seal.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The university comprises over thirty departments.
- The kit comprises a spanner, a screwdriver, and a hammer.
American English
- The anthology comprises works from the 19th century.
- The board comprises five elected members.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form.]
American English
- [No standard adverb form.]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjective form. 'Comprisal' is obsolete.]
American English
- [No standard adjective form.]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A week comprises seven days.
- My family comprises four people.
- The basic package comprises internet and phone service.
- The committee comprises representatives from each class.
- The novel comprises three distinct narrative strands.
- The new legislation comprises over fifty individual clauses.
- The coalition government comprises several ideologically disparate parties.
- The synthesis pathway comprises a series of complex catalytic reactions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMPRISe as a COMPrehensive list: the whole COMpactly PRISes (encloses) all its parts inside it.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER metaphor: the whole is a container that holds the parts.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'состоит из' as 'is comprised of' in formal writing; use 'comprises' or 'consists of'.
- The Russian verb 'включать' is broader; 'comprise' is specifically for listing all constituent parts.
- Do not confuse with 'compromise' (компромисс).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'comprise' to mean 'compose' (e.g., 'Ten chapters comprise the book' is ambiguous; better: 'Ten chapters constitute the book' or 'The book comprises ten chapters.').
- Overusing the passive 'is comprised of', which is widely considered non-standard in careful editing.
- Using 'comprised of' without the auxiliary 'is/are' (e.g., 'A team comprised of experts' – should be 'comprising' or 'composed of').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'comprise' in its most widely accepted (traditional) form?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is very common, especially in spoken English, but it is frequently criticized in formal writing and editing. For formal contexts, use 'comprises', 'consists of', or 'is composed of'.
'Comprise' suggests that all parts are being listed (exhaustive). 'Include' suggests that only some representative parts are being mentioned (non-exhaustive). E.g., 'The zoo comprises mammals, birds, and reptiles' (that's all it has). 'The zoo includes pandas and penguins' (it has these and other things).
Traditionally, no. The whole comprises the parts. However, the construction 'Ten chapters comprise the book' is sometimes seen, but it is ambiguous and often revised to 'Ten chapters constitute the book' or 'The book comprises ten chapters' for clarity.
Many modern dictionaries list it as a disputed or non-standard usage. Its acceptability depends on the audience. In academic, technical, or professionally edited texts, it is generally avoided. In less formal contexts, it is widely understood.