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constitute definition

con·sti·tute (kän′stə to̵̅o̅t′, -tyo̵̅o̅t′)

transitive verb constituted -·tut′ed, constituting -·tut′·ing

  1. to set up (a law, government, institution, etc.); establish
  2. to set up (an assembly, proceedings, etc.) in a legal or official form
  3. to give a certain office or function to; appoint our officially constituted spokesperson
  4. to make up; be the components or elements of; form; compose twelve people constitute a jury
  5. to be actually as designated such action constitutes a felony

Etymology: ME constituten < L constitutus, pp. of constituere, to set up, establish < com-, together + statuere, to set: see statue

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

constitute Synonyms

constitute

v.

  1. To found

    establish, develop, create, set up; see organize 2.

  2. To empower

    commission, authorize, appoint; see commission, delegate 1, 2.

  3. To enact

    order, draft, decree, legislate; see enact.

  4. To make up

    form, frame, compound, aggregate; see compose 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

constitute Usage Examples

Object

  • endorsement: Inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement.

Preposition: around

  • %: At present over 65âs constitute only around 7 % of the population of Turkey.

Adjective complement

  • less: The expenses of these individuals constitute less than 10 % of overall Research Fund expenditure.

Used with why or when

  • what: The set of photographed elements constitutes what it is denominated the perianth.

Present participle complement

  • bully: More general guidance on what may constitute bullying in the academic context should also be developed and publicized.
constitute usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"constitute." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/constitute>

APA Style

constitute. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/constitute

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