compute

verb

com·​pute kəm-ˈpyüt How to pronounce compute (audio)
computed; computing

transitive verb

: to determine especially by mathematical means
Compute the area of the triangle.
also : to determine or calculate by means of a computer
computing pi to over one billion places

intransitive verb

1
: to make calculation : reckon
They compute by weight in selling grain.
2
: to use a computer
3
informal : to make sense
No matter how you do the math, it will not work … . It simply does not compute.Chuck Finder

Examples of compute in a Sentence

for the test we were required to compute the answers without using a calculator
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.
But Zach Kass, a futurist who spoke at The Pet Industry Leadership conference in Florida this week, explained that the cost of units of AI are declining much faster than computing power has typically dropped in the past. Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025 Quantum stocks – Quantum computing stocks gained after Microsoft unveiled its quantum-ready plan aimed at preparing businesses for the rise of quantum computers. Sean Conlon, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025 Quantum computing stocks climbed during Tuesday morning trading after plunging earlier in the week. Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 14 Jan. 2025 To solve this problem, Bandyopadhyay and his colleagues designed and built what is likely to be the world’s first chip that can compute the entire deep neural net, including both linear and non-linear operations, using photons. Ars Technica, 12 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for compute 

Word History

Etymology

Latin computare — more at count

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of compute was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near compute

Cite this Entry

“Compute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compute. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

compute

verb
com·​pute kəm-ˈpyüt How to pronounce compute (audio)
computed; computing
1
: to determine or calculate especially by mathematical means
also : to determine or calculate by means of a computer
2
informal : to make sense
computable
-ˈpyüt-ə-bəl
adjective
Etymology

from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to account, count entry 1

More from Merriam-Webster on compute

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