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
Only after the full netting process is the capital gains tax computed on the net gain or loss.
—Bob Carlson, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Rather than pour tens of billions of dollars into building data centers as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Google have done, Apple has struck partnerships with OpenAI, which fields some A.I. queries on iPhones, and rented computing infrastructure from cloud providers.
—Meaghan Tobin, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Akamai Technologies — The cloud computing stock tumbled nearly 10% after the company’s guidance for the first quarter came in weaker than expected.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2025
Such capabilities are most likely to emerge from the most advanced models which are trained on growing amounts of computing power.
—Janet Egan, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compute
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.
Bob Carlson, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Rather than pour tens of billions of dollars into building data centers as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Google have done, Apple has struck partnerships with OpenAI, which fields some A.I. queries on iPhones, and rented computing infrastructure from cloud providers.
—Meaghan Tobin, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Akamai Technologies — The cloud computing stock tumbled nearly 10% after the company’s guidance for the first quarter came in weaker than expected.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2025
Such capabilities are most likely to emerge from the most advanced models which are trained on growing amounts of computing power.
—Janet Egan, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compute
Articles Related to compute
Cite this Entry
“Compute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compute. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share