Definition of compositionnext
1
as in piece
a literary, musical, or artistic production the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David

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2
as in paper
a short piece of writing done as a school exercise a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions

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3
as in layout
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images

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4
as in article
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view submitted a composition to the local newspaper for its special section marking Martin Luther King Day

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of composition Michael Jerrett, an environmental health professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said his concern is the composition of materials emitted when the building burned. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Last year’s class reimagined how successful Notre Dame could be at acquiring top defensive backs out of high school, but this one might be Freeman’s favorite, based on its composition. Pete Sampson, New York Times, 1 July 2026 But in the 25 years since that ruling, the composition of the high court changed considerably. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Many people incorporate walking to change their body composition, support their mental health, or improve cardiovascular health. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for composition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for composition
Noun
  • Refine a portfolio piece, build a small prototype, or share a draft with someone who gives honest notes.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
  • Gomez's wedding guest dress also bore a striking resemblance to her 2025 Oscars dress, a custom off-the-shoulder piece by Ralph Lauren.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • On the streets of Paris, editors and buyers have been rushing between shows fan-in-hand, from high-tech cooling devices to tried-and-true paper fans.
    Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 2 July 2026
  • Instead, the 28-year-old Vacaville resident, identified in court papers as Kumari Daniel Johnson, was arrested on felony charges, court records show.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • While choosing the layout, the tribe hosted listening sessions with community members and elders.
    Sarah Liese, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Engineers created a digital twin before construction to optimize the building layout and equipment placement.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The article concludes that genuine empowerment requires substantial capital investment, not just goodwill, to build effective support systems.
    Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Custom built tents can cost up to $1 million, according to a Vogue article on the trend.
    Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Roth was placed on administrative leave but returned to work shortly afterward, according to the lawsuit.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Considering flight attendants spend the majority of their week living out of a suitcase, their luggage has to be truly top-tier—capable of holding all of their work essentials, personal items, and more without missing a beat.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • The same capabilities rewriting software engineering, medicine and your high schooler’s essay are now trained on construction data.
    Mike Winn, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • It was also published as a booklet, in another journal, and included in an anthology of Planck’s essays and lectures.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • The white floral print channels the actress’s effortless aesthetic, and the easy-to-style design can be paired with tank tops, T-shirts, or even worn as a strapless swimsuit cover-up for beach days and vacations.
    Taylor Jean Stephan, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • That design allows researchers to position the ion with greater flexibility while making weak oscillating fields easier to detect.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • In Sally Potter’s 1992 masterpiece Orlando, Virginia Woolf’s classic novel of a British aristocrat who is born in the Elizabethan era and goes on to live for hundreds of years—oh, and who also changes genders at around the age of 30—is brought to bold and brilliant visual life.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 June 2026
  • First-time visitors can expect a labyrinthine world—55 rooms, taking up over 21,00 square feet in all over five floors—connected by three lifts and four staircases, the most dramatic of which is a spiral masterpiece originally designed by Foster + Partners and extended as part of the renovation.
    Nick Scott, Robb Report, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Composition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/composition. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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