constitute
verb
con·sti·tute ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtüt 
-ˌtyüt
constituted; constituting
1
2
3
: to appoint to an office, function, or dignity
Legal authority constitutes all magistrates.
Examples of constitute in a Sentence
Women constitute 70 percent of the student population at the college. nine players constitute a baseball team
Recent Examples on the Web Leftism thus constitutes an ongoing search for new causes to fight on behalf of, in a way that mobilizes adherents and creates solidarity among them. —
Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026 The judge also blocked Kennedy's 13 appointees from serving on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), finding the panel unlawfully constituted. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026 Whether the doctor’s setup would constitute a shooting range under the law is unclear, but possible. —Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026 In a moment when much pop music sounds engineered for minimum friction, Ives’ smudgy postcards from the edge constitute a real revelation. —Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for constitute
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.
Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026 The judge also blocked Kennedy's 13 appointees from serving on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), finding the panel unlawfully constituted. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026 Whether the doctor’s setup would constitute a shooting range under the law is unclear, but possible. —Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026 In a moment when much pop music sounds engineered for minimum friction, Ives’ smudgy postcards from the edge constitute a real revelation. —Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for constitute Cite this Entry
“Constitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitute. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
constitute
verb con·sti·tute ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌt(y)üt
constituted; constituting
1
: to appoint to an office or duty
constituted authorities
2
: set up sense 4, establish
a fund was constituted to help needy students
3
: make up sense 2, form
twelve months constitute a year
Legal Definition
constitute
transitive verb con·sti·tute ˈkän-stə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt
1
: to appoint to an office or function
those who are constituted heirs or named legatees—Louisiana Civil Code
Louisiana Civil Codelegal authority constitutes all magistrates
3
a
: to put (as an agreement) into required form
b
: to qualify as
a letter can constitute a will—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.failure to act may constitute negligence
c
: to form the substance or whole of
the bonds constituted the entire estate
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged 
