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 Wilson even opined to the Hornets about the team’s composition. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026 If ultraheavy nuclei contribute significantly at the highest energies, future data should indicate a composition heavier than iron. Robert Lea, Space.com, 13 May 2026 This task involves using the drill on its robotic arm to grind a section of the geological formation, which then offers scientists back on Earth the materials necessary to analyze its composition. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 May 2026 The composition may feel unbalanced, the lighting less dynamic, and the moment itself somehow flatter than imagined. Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for composition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for composition
Noun
  • Most small jewelry items are a non-issue for body scanners, but larger, bulkier pieces may need to go into a bin.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
  • Best Early Memorial Day Wayfair Furniture Deals When there’s a major sale, picking up investment pieces is my best piece of advice, and there’s something for every room at Wayfair.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • Anthropic is releasing a new policy paper warning that China could eventually overtake the United States in the global AI race if Washington fails to strengthen chip restrictions and defend its technological advantage.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
  • At the time of appointment, the average CEO in 2023 was 55 years old, up from 47 in 2000, according to a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, published in April.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • My living room has an open-concept layout, extending to the dining room and kitchen, so a large sofa matches the scale of the space well.
    Meg Kernahan, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2026
  • The second and last bed in the four-sleeper layout is located on the opposite end, all the way against the front wall.
    C.C. Weiss May 15, New Atlas, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • During this time, circus families blossomed all over Mexico, aided by the appearance of the steamship and railway systems, as the circus historian Julio Revolledo Cárdenas would detail in a 2018 article for the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
  • Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
    Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • The offense needs a lot of work, and Monken, who has 11 years of NFL offensive coaching experience (though never as a head coach), is tasked with fixing it.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • The new ranch comes with a coffee-drinking porch (mandatory), but it is weathered, rustic and needs work.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • The day Shumer published the essay, Wall Street didn’t panic.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 May 2026
  • Tatiana revealed her diagnosis in an essay published in The New Yorker in November 2025.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • These 100-percent linen pants have practical front panel pockets for holding small essentials, and shoppers praised the tapered design and ankle-length cut that work well on petite frames.
    Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026
  • Set the scene One of the first things that jumps out at any of 1 Hotels' locations is the biophilic design.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • That was the year The Tin Drum, his adaptation of Günter Grass’ sprawling anti-fascist masterpiece, shared the Palme d’Or with Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • Although, of course, O’Toole completely redeemed himself by playing Henry II again a couple of years later in the garrulous masterpiece A Lion in Winter (1968).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Composition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/composition. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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