compile

verb

com·​pile kəm-ˈpī(-ə)l 

compiled; compiling

transitive verb

1

: to compose out of materials from other documents

compile a statistical chart

2

: to collect and edit into a volume

compile a book of poems

3

: to build up gradually

compiled a record of four wins and two losses

4

: to run (something, such as a program) through a compiler

Synonyms

• anthologize
• collect

Examples of compile in a Sentence

He compiled a book of poems.

She compiled a list of names.

They took the best submissions and compiled them in a single issue of the magazine.

We compiled our findings in the report.

Recent Examples on the Web

Analysts had expected the jab to pull in $909 million in sales for the quarter, according to estimates compiled by StreetAccount. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025

The Swedish industry has some 30,000 employees and a turnover of 2.6 billion euros, 80 percent of which is from export, with the most important markets being the European Union, Norway and the U.S. Annual figures were compiled by TMF, Sweden’s confederation for the furniture and woodworks industry. —Anders Modig Davin, WWD, 13 Feb. 2025

Quartz has compiled a list of their spicy back-and-forth. —Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 12 Feb. 2025

The scammer had located his Facebook profile and compiled a photo collage of their sexts, nudes, a portrait from his college graduation and a screenshot of his full name and phone number. —Rachel Hale, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French compiler, from Latin compilare to plunder

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

compile

verb

com·​pile kəm-ˈpīl 

compiled; compiling

1

: to collect into a volume or list

compile a book of poems

2

: to put together in a new form out of materials from other books or documents

compile a history of India

3

: to translate (as a computer program) with a compiler