constitute
verb
con·sti·tute ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtüt 
-ˌtyüt
constituted; constituting
transitive verb
1
: make up, form, compose
12 months constitute a year.
… high school dropouts who constitute a major problem in large city slums.
J. B. Conant
J. B. Conant2
: set up, establish: such as
a
: enact
regulations as are constituted by the government
b
: found
constitute a provisional government
c(1)
: to give due or lawful form to
an agreement constituted by writing
(2)
: to legally process
3
: to appoint to an office, function, or dignity
Legal authority constitutes all magistrates.
Synonyms
- compose
- comprise
- form
- make up
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Women constitute 70 percent of the student population at the college. nine players constitute a baseball team
Recent Examples on the Web Chubb maintained that neither stay-at-home orders nor a temporary loss of use of property constitute physical damage. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 Hours after yet another assessment by outside observers that China’s crackdown in its far-west Xinjiang region may constitute crimes against humanity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stepped up to a podium to go on the offensive. Dake Kang, ajc, 2 Sep. 2022 Pinks are among the rarest and most valuable of all colored diamonds, and those the size of the Williamson Pink Star constitute an even smaller subset. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2022 There’s room, of course, to debate whether remakes constitute new, full releases. Geoffrey Bunting, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 With Pink Sauce, the company hopes Chef Pii’s preexisting following will constitute a new, untapped consumer market. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 22 Aug. 2022 However, as news of the MPS policy has made national headlines in recent days, critics say the policy's attempts to rectify past discrimination could constitute discrimination itself -- potentially even a violation of the 14th Amendment. Amanda Su, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2022 In June 2021 the foundation contributed a mere $1 million to the endowment, thereby ignoring the universal accounting convention that bare promises to raise money never constitute an endowment: Cash and firm pledges are always required. Michael Rachlis, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 While trespassing and suicide incidents constitute some of the causes, rail crossing violations by motorists who try to beat trains across the tracks are another major contributor to fatalities, industry and law enforcement officials say. David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2022 See More
Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 Hours after yet another assessment by outside observers that China’s crackdown in its far-west Xinjiang region may constitute crimes against humanity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stepped up to a podium to go on the offensive. Dake Kang, ajc, 2 Sep. 2022 Pinks are among the rarest and most valuable of all colored diamonds, and those the size of the Williamson Pink Star constitute an even smaller subset. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2022 There’s room, of course, to debate whether remakes constitute new, full releases. Geoffrey Bunting, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 With Pink Sauce, the company hopes Chef Pii’s preexisting following will constitute a new, untapped consumer market. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 22 Aug. 2022 However, as news of the MPS policy has made national headlines in recent days, critics say the policy's attempts to rectify past discrimination could constitute discrimination itself -- potentially even a violation of the 14th Amendment. Amanda Su, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2022 In June 2021 the foundation contributed a mere $1 million to the endowment, thereby ignoring the universal accounting convention that bare promises to raise money never constitute an endowment: Cash and firm pledges are always required. Michael Rachlis, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 While trespassing and suicide incidents constitute some of the causes, rail crossing violations by motorists who try to beat trains across the tracks are another major contributor to fatalities, industry and law enforcement officials say. David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin constitutus, past participle of constituere to set up, constitute, from com- + statuere to set — more at statute
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Kids Definition
constitute
verb
con·sti·tute ˈkän-stə-ˌtüt
-ˌtyüt
constituted; constituting
1
: to form the whole of
Twelve months constitute a year.
2
: to establish or create
constitute a new government
Legal Definition
constitute
transitive verb
con·sti·tute ˈkän-stə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt
1
: to appoint to an office or function
those who are constituted heirs or named legatees Louisiana Civil Code
Louisiana Civil Codelegal authority constitutes all magistrates
2
: establish, found
to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I3
a
: to put (as an agreement) into required form
b
: to qualify as
a letter can constitute a will W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.failure to act may constitute negligence
c
: to form the substance or whole of
the bonds constituted the entire estate
constitute
verb
1
as in to comprise
to be all the substance of nine players constitute a baseball team Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- comprise
- compose
- form
- make up
- embody
- complement
- personify
- epitomize
- supplement
- integrate
- incorporate
- incarnate
- complete
- materialize
- substantiate
- flesh (out)
- fill (out)
2
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of a fund was constituted to help needy students attend the prep school Synonyms & Similar Words
- establish
- initiate
- create
- found
- pioneer
- introduce
- institute
- launch
- inaugurate
- begin
- originate
- construct
- plant
- start
- organize
- invent
- produce
- innovate
- develop
- devise
- manufacture
- set up
- author
- father
- endow
- concoct
- fund
- conceive
- contrive
- make up
- finance
- fabricate
- expand
- subsidize
- arrange
- enlarge
- systematize
- reinstitute
- reinitiate
- cook (up)
- systemize
- think (up)
- refound
- put up
- relaunch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- close (down)
- nullify
- shut (up)
- abolish
- annul
- annihilate
- terminate
- stop
- phase out
- halt
- end
- finish
- wind up
- round (off or out)
- wrap up
3
as in to appoint
to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty the legally constituted authorities with jurisdiction in this matter Synonyms & Similar Words
- appoint
- nominate
- assign
- designate
- name
- commission
- attach
- induct
- authorize
- place
- create
- elect
- detail
- institute
- choose
- delegate
- select
- inaugurate
- ordain
- consecrate
- make
- install
- anoint
- deputize
- destine
- depute
- instate
- invest
- enthrone
- crown
- throne
- draft
- handpick
- vote (in)
- single (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dismiss
- expel
- displace
- remove
- discharge
- fire
- evict
- dethrone
- unseat
- overthrow
- oust
- eject
- depose
- throw out
- unmake
- uncrown
- blackball
4
as in to enact
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action charged with enforcing such regulations as are constituted by the government Synonyms & Similar Words
- enact
- pass
- make
- approve
- dictate
- legislate
- authorize
- permit
- ordain
- lay down
- allow
- ratify
- sanction
- effect
- execute
- proclaim
- reenact
- administer
- bring about
- decree
- confirm
- repass
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- revoke
- invalidate
- repeal
- rescind
- kill
- abolish
- nullify
- cancel
- abrogate
- annul
- reverse
- void
- overturn