comprise

To have particular people or things as all of your parts.

• The team comprises five people.
• The book comprised twelve short chapters.
• How many rooms does the apartment comprise?

How to use it: comprise something (The course comprises six lessons.)

Similar words: consist of, contain

Common phrases: comprise three parts, comprise ten members, comprise several sections, comprise four chapters

To be the people or things that together form a whole.

• Six chapters comprise the book.
• Women comprised half the audience.
• These smaller islands comprise most of the country’s territory.

How to use it: comprise something (Eight volunteers comprise the rescue team.)

Similar words: make up, constitute, compose

Common phrases: comprise the team, comprise the majority, comprise the whole, comprise the population

To include something as a part of a larger whole.

• The reserve comprises a lake.
• The collection comprises several rare maps among its treasures.
• The report comprises a section on transport alongside other topics.

How to use it: comprise something (The protected area comprises a small island.)

Similar words: include, contain

Opposites: exclude

Common phrases: comprise several areas, comprise an island