as in to calculate
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations
for the test we were required to compute the answers without using a calculator
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Recent Examples of compute
In Hamilton’s time, computing power was severely limited.
—
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 12 May 2026
By early 1985, IBM—the computing giant that dominated corporate America—and its imitators had captured nearly half the personal computer market, up from about a third just months earlier.
—Geoffrey Cain, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
So naturally, the thought of turning Hypergnosis into an ethical company doesn’t compute, even to a seemingly conscientious person like Harper, who likens Anushka’s vision to buying a jet and asking where the brakes are.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 May 2026
That means that in practice, for most depreciable real estate, total gain is computed as the amount realized minus the adjusted basis.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for compute
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 12 May 2026
By early 1985, IBM—the computing giant that dominated corporate America—and its imitators had captured nearly half the personal computer market, up from about a third just months earlier.
—Geoffrey Cain, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
So naturally, the thought of turning Hypergnosis into an ethical company doesn’t compute, even to a seemingly conscientious person like Harper, who likens Anushka’s vision to buying a jet and asking where the brakes are.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 May 2026
That means that in practice, for most depreciable real estate, total gain is computed as the amount realized minus the adjusted basis.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for compute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compute
Verb
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The researchers calculated that cement made from silicate rocks could require less than 60 percent of the energy needed to process limestone while cutting associated carbon dioxide emissions by more than 80 percent.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
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These numbers are used to calculate your biological age, and to inform what kind of exercise and nutrition changes might help improve any markers that are out of range.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Here are some ways to figure that out using examples from the classic fairy tale Cinderella.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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The cities that figure this out will not just recover from the disruptions of the past five years.—
Chase Garbarino,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compute. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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