compile

verb

com·​pile kəm-ˈpī(-ə)l How to pronounce compile (audio)
compiled; compiling

transitive verb

1
: to compose out of materials from other documents
compile a statistical chart
2
: to collect and edit into a volume
compile a book of poems
3
: to build up gradually
compiled a record of four wins and two losses
4
: to run (something, such as a program) through a compiler

Examples of compile in a Sentence

He compiled a book of poems. She compiled a list of names. They took the best submissions and compiled them in a single issue of the magazine. We compiled our findings in the report.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to data compiled by Yelp, Culver's tops the list in both the Midwest and the South, while Shake Shack flexed its national appeal, leading in the Northeast and ranking in the top 5 in every other region. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 22 May 2025 The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. Miami Herald Archive, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025 Right now, DraftKings and FanDuel together command most of the sportsbook market outside of Nevada, with 37% and 35%, respectively as of March, according to data compiled by Casino Reports, an industry publication. Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 21 May 2025 Experts Say These Will Be the Worst Pests in Your Region This Year Top 10 Mosquito-Ridden Cities Orkin compiled its mosquito rankings by analyzing the number of residential mosquito treatments performed in each city from April 2024 through March 2025. Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for compile

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French compiler, from Latin compilare to plunder

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of compile was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compile. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

compile

verb
com·​pile kəm-ˈpīl How to pronounce compile (audio)
compiled; compiling
1
: to collect into a volume or list
compile a book of poems
2
: to put together in a new form out of materials from other books or documents
compile a history of India
3
: to translate (as a computer program) with a compiler

More from Merriam-Webster on compile

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