comprise

/kəmˈpraɪz/ · kum-PRYZEverb

Consist of, include, or contain the parts that make up a whole.

Use comprise to express this relationship precisely: consist of, include, or contain the parts that make up a whole.

What comprise Really Means

The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.

1

Core action

Consist of, include, or contain the parts that make up a whole.

Example

The archive comprises letters, maps, and financial records.

2

Common construction

Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.

Example

Five coastal districts comprise the study region.

3

Reasoning effect

It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.

Example

The committee is composed of twelve members; those members comprise the entire panel.

Use comprise Naturally

Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.

The archive comprises letters, maps, and financial records.

Five coastal districts comprise the study region.

The committee is composed of twelve members; those members comprise the entire panel.

Precision Matters

Comprise overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.

comprise

Means consist of, include, or contain the parts that make up a whole.

vs.
in addition to

Means add a person, thing, or consideration to one already mentioned.

comprise

Means consist of, include, or contain the parts that make up a whole.

vs.
in conjunction with

Means together with another factor, method, or action as part of a combined process.

comprise

Means consist of, include, or contain the parts that make up a whole.

vs.
heterogeneous

Means composed of varied, diverse, or dissimilar elements.

comprise

Means consist of, include, or contain the parts that make up a whole.

vs.
multifaceted

Means having many aspects or dimensions.

Test comprise in Context

The observations are the constituent parts included in the whole dataset.

1

The final dataset will ___ 2,000 observations collected from six regions.

Prepared byFirst Academy
Editorial responsibilityFirst Academy Academic Team
Updated3 August 2026
Selection and reviewRead our methodology