comprise

verb

OPAL W

/kəmˈpraɪz/

not used in the progressive tenses (formal)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they comprise	/kəmˈpraɪz/ /kəmˈpraɪz/
he / she / it comprises	/kəmˈpraɪzɪz/ /kəmˈpraɪzɪz/
past simple comprised	/kəmˈpraɪzd/ /kəmˈpraɪzd/
past participle comprised	/kəmˈpraɪzd/ /kəmˈpraɪzd/
past simple comprising	/kəmˈpraɪzɪŋ/ /kəmˈpraɪzɪŋ/
past participle comprising	/kəmˈpraɪzɪŋ/ /kəmˈpraɪzɪŋ/

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(also be comprised of)
to have somebody/something as parts or members synonym consist of
- comprise something The collection comprises 327 paintings.
- a DVD box set comprising seasons 4 and 5
- be comprised of somebody/something The committee is comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors.
The main meaning of comprise is ‘have somebody/something as parts or members’. You can use it in two forms: as comprise with an object: The country comprises 20 states. Or you can use it in the passive form be comprised of somebody/something, which has the same meaning: The country is comprised of twenty states. Sometimes you may see the active form ‘comprise of’ but this is considered incorrect: The property comprises of bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
comprise something to be the parts or members that form something synonym make up
- Older people comprise a large proportion of those living in poverty.
Synonyms consist of somebody/something
consist of somebody/something
- comprise
- be composed of somebody/something
These words all mean to be formed from the things or people mentioned.
- consist of somebody/something to be formed from the people, things or activities mentioned:
  Their diet consists largely of vegetables.
  Consist of somebody/something is the only one of these words that can be used for activities with the -ing form of a verb: My work at that time just consisted of typing letters.
- comprise (rather formal) to be formed from the things or people mentioned:
  The collection comprises 327 paintings.
  You can also say be comprised of somebody/something: The collection is comprised of 327 paintings. It is not correct to say ‘comprises of’, even though you may say this form being used: The apartment comprises of kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom.
- be composed of somebody/something (rather formal) to be formed from the things or people mentioned:
  Around 15 per cent of our diet is composed of protein.
Language Bank proportion
proportionDescribing fractions and proportions
- According to this pie chart, a third of students’ leisure time is spent watching TV.
- One in five hours is/are spent socializing.
- Socializing accounts for/makes up/comprises about 20 per cent of leisure time.
- Students spend twice as much time playing computer games as doing sport.
- Three times as many hours are spent playing computer games as reading.
- The figure for playing computer games is three times higher than the figure for reading.
- The largest proportion of time is spent playing computer games.

Word Originlate Middle English: from French, ‘comprised’, feminine past participle of comprendre, from Old French comprehender, from com- ‘together’ + prehendere ‘grasp’.