computed; computing
: to determine especially by mathematical means
Compute the area of the triangle.
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
Chuck FinderExamples of compute in a Sentence
for the test we were required to compute the answers without using a calculator
Recent Examples on the Web
Nebius Cloud computing company Nebius (NBIS) is also one of the beneficiaries of robust demand for AI infrastructure.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
The computing power of all human brains combined amounts to roughly 10¹⁸ flops.
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Qubits of any sort are extremely error-prone, and computing with them will require constant vigilance.
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Resurfaced footage released by YouTuber Gary Friedman shows some of the sturdy computing hardware that powered Voyager 1 and 2, a pair of spacecraft first launched in 1977 and tasked with taking a trip through our solar system.
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Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
The computing power of all human brains combined amounts to roughly 10¹⁸ flops.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Qubits of any sort are extremely error-prone, and computing with them will require constant vigilance.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
Resurfaced footage released by YouTuber Gary Friedman shows some of the sturdy computing hardware that powered Voyager 1 and 2, a pair of spacecraft first launched in 1977 and tasked with taking a trip through our solar system.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compute
Cite this Entry
“Compute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compute. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compute
verb
com·pute
kəm-ˈpyüt 
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
adjective
-ˈpyüt-ə-bəl
Etymology
from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to account, count entry 1
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