Words / C1

KONST-it-yoot/ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt/

Constitute means “make up” or “amount to”: the parts form the whole, or an act counts as something in law or policy. Native writers prefer it when they want a formal, exact verb instead of are or make up. Consist of looks at the whole and names its parts (the team consists of six people). Constitute looks at the parts and says what they form.

Meaning

To be the parts that form something.

Examples

• “These twelve chapters constitute the whole course.”
• “Women constitute a majority of the applicants.”
• “Such delays constitute a breach of the agreement.”

Good to know

A, B and C constitute X. consist of = X is made of A, B, C. Formal for “count as.”

Near in meaning

make up

New