constitute

[ kon-sti-toot, -tyoot ]

verb (used with object)

, con·sti·tut·ed, con·sti·tut·ing.

1. to compose; form:

   mortar constituted of lime and sand.

2. to appoint to an office or function; make or create:

   He was constituted treasurer.

3. to establish (laws, an institution, etc.).

   Synonyms: commission, institute

4. to give legal form to (an assembly, court, etc.).
5. to create or be tantamount to:

   Imports constitute a challenge to local goods.

6. Archaic. to set or place.

constitute

/ ˈkɒnstɪˌtjuːt /

verb

1. to make up; form; compose

   the people who constitute a jury

2. to appoint to an office or function

   a legally constituted officer

3. to set up (a school or other institution) formally; found
4. law to give legal form to (a court, assembly, etc)
5. obsolete.
   law to set up or enact (a law)

Derived Forms

• ˈconstiˌtuter, noun

Other Words From

• consti·tuter consti·tutor noun
• non·consti·tuted adjective
• pre·consti·tute verb (used with object) preconstituted preconstituting
• self-consti·tuted adjective
• self-consti·tuting adjective
• un·consti·tuted adjective
• well-consti·tuted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of constitute¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin constitūtus, past participle of constituere “to set up, found”; constituent

Word History and Origins

Origin of constitute¹

C15: from Latin constituere, from com- (intensive) + statuere to place

Example Sentences

“Forced displacement has been widespread, and the evidence shows it has been systematic and part of a state policy. Such acts also constitute crimes against humanity,” HRW says.

From BBC

“Genocide does not need to involve a single killing. There are five acts that can constitute genocide, only one of which involves killing,” he said.

From Salon

"You have to be resilient, you have to be adaptable, but in the same sense, you have to be really good at interacting with people and understanding what they want, what they need, what they constitute as valuable for them and how they want to receive that good or service," he added.

From Salon

That alone would constitute a giant step away from the rule of law and toward autocracy.

From Los Angeles Times

In a press conference, Raffensperger noted that and threats were meant to sow fear and confusion and did not constitute any real danger.

From Salon

Related Words

• create
• establish