constitute

con·sti·tute

verb \ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt\

con·sti·tut·edcon·sti·tut·ing

Definition of CONSTITUTE

transitive verb

1

: to appoint to an office, function, or dignity

2

: set up, establish: as a : enact b : found c (1) : to give due or lawful form to (2) : to legally process

3

: make up, form, compose <12 months constitute a year> <high school dropouts who constitute a major problem in large city slums — J. B. Conant>

Examples of CONSTITUTE

1. Women constitute 70 percent of the student population at the college.
2. <nine players constitute a baseball team>

Origin of CONSTITUTE

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

Related to CONSTITUTE

Synonyms: compose, comprise, form, make up

Antonyms: close (down), phase out, shut (up)

Related Words: embody, epitomize, incarnate, incorporate, integrate, materialize, personify, substantiate; complement, complete, supplement; fill (out), flesh (out)

Near Antonyms: abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify; end, finish, halt, stop, terminate; round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with CONSTITUTE

absolute, Aleut, arrowroot, Asyût, attribute, autoroute, bandicoot, bathing suit, birthday suit, bitterroot, bodysuit, boilersuit, bumbershoot, business suit, comminute, contribute, convolute, destitute, disrepute, dissolute, execute, follow suit, gingerroot, hot pursuit, institute, involute, kiwifruit, leisure suit, malamute, overshoot, parachute, passion fruit, persecute, point-and-shoot, prosecute, prostitute, qiviut, resolute, restitute, revolute, run-and-shoot, rural route, subacute, substitute, troubleshoot, undershoot