Illustration of compass
- compass 3a
compass
1 of 3verb
com·pass ˈkəm-pəs 
also ˈkäm-
compassed; compassing; compasses
transitive verb
1
: to devise or contrive often with craft or skill : plot
" … persons … who have compassed my destruction … "
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens2
: encompass
a lake compassed by mountains
3
a
: bring about, achieve
… none can compass more than they intend … Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope b
: to get into one's possession or power : obtain
He compassed a vast estate.
4
: comprehend
could not compass the seriousness of the problem
compassable
ˈkəm-pə-sə-bəl
adjective also ˈkäm-
compass
2 of 3noun
1
a
: boundary, circumference
within the compass of the city walls
b
: a circumscribed space
crammed into a narrow compass
c
: range, scope
the compass of my voice
2
: a curved or roundabout course
… a compass of seven days' journey … 2 Kings 3:9 (King James Version)
2 Kings 3:9 (King James Version)3
a
: a device for determining directions by means of a magnetic needle or group of needles turning freely on a pivot and pointing to the magnetic north
b
: any of various nonmagnetic devices that indicate direction
c
: an instrument for describing circles or transferring measurements that consists of two pointed branches joined at the top by a pivot —usually used in plural
called also pair of compasses
4
: direction sense 6c
his moral compass
compass
3 of 3adjective
: forming a curve : curved
a compass timber
Synonyms
Verb
- accomplish
- achieve
- bring off
- carry off
- carry out
- commit
- do
- execute
- follow through (with)
- fulfill
- fulfil
- make
- negotiate
- perform
- perpetrate
- prosecute
- pull off
- put through
Noun
- cynosure
- direction
- focus
- lodestar
- loadstar
- polestar
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb attempting more than his modest abilities could compass the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth Noun He always carries a compass when he walks in the woods. His religion is the compass that guides him. Interest rates serve as a compass for determining whether to buy or sell stocks. The character in the movie had no moral compass to tell him that stealing was wrong. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Christopher Dodson, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021 The other delegates ignored him, the Constitution was adopted, and Charles L’Enfant skulked onto the scene with his ruler and compass a few years later. Kevin Mahnken, The New Republic, 25 June 2020 It is based on the knowledge that no spoliator can compass his end without a certain degree of co-operation, willing or compulsory, of the victim. Tridip Suhrud, Time, 25 Sep. 2019 Lutfi began harassing Britney and those around her shortly after the performer checked into an all-compassing wellness treatment facility in April, the singer’s attorney said in the court documents. PEOPLE.com, 13 June 2019 True to their name, though, sun compasses only work in the sun. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 4 Apr. 2018 Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 Goldberg was widely respected among physician leaders at CMC for his passionate commitment to patients, top surgical skills, and strong ethical compass. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The device gets about 36 hours on a single charge, is more water resistant and an enhanced compass that can work at night, in the ocean and other conditions. Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 What Kushner’s book really is, however, is a portrait of a man whose moral compass has been demagnetized. Elizabeth Spiers, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 As a mouse moves, a group of neurons in its brain tracks the direction of its head, acting like an internal compass. Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 But the team culture and Isaiah’s moral compass kept the competitive spirit in its proper focus. Don Yaeger, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 Some cocktails have a history so contested, so laden with switchbacks and apocrypha, the general experience is like opening a compass to find the needle spinning freely in place. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2022 The package also featured a compass pointing southeast, a turtle with a cowboy hat, a four-ounce measurement and a comic book. Dana Rose Falcone, PEOPLE.com, 9 Mar. 2022 See More
Verb
It could be argued that Ingram, not Williamson, is the barometer and compass for how the Pelicans' will navigate the sails of the regular season. Christopher Dodson, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021 The other delegates ignored him, the Constitution was adopted, and Charles L’Enfant skulked onto the scene with his ruler and compass a few years later. Kevin Mahnken, The New Republic, 25 June 2020 It is based on the knowledge that no spoliator can compass his end without a certain degree of co-operation, willing or compulsory, of the victim. Tridip Suhrud, Time, 25 Sep. 2019 Lutfi began harassing Britney and those around her shortly after the performer checked into an all-compassing wellness treatment facility in April, the singer’s attorney said in the court documents. PEOPLE.com, 13 June 2019 True to their name, though, sun compasses only work in the sun. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 4 Apr. 2018 Noun
What’s your guiding light and compass that keeps you going? Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 Goldberg was widely respected among physician leaders at CMC for his passionate commitment to patients, top surgical skills, and strong ethical compass. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The device gets about 36 hours on a single charge, is more water resistant and an enhanced compass that can work at night, in the ocean and other conditions. Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 What Kushner’s book really is, however, is a portrait of a man whose moral compass has been demagnetized. Elizabeth Spiers, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 As a mouse moves, a group of neurons in its brain tracks the direction of its head, acting like an internal compass. Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 But the team culture and Isaiah’s moral compass kept the competitive spirit in its proper focus. Don Yaeger, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 Some cocktails have a history so contested, so laden with switchbacks and apocrypha, the general experience is like opening a compass to find the needle spinning freely in place. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2022 The package also featured a compass pointing southeast, a turtle with a cowboy hat, a four-ounce measurement and a comic book. Dana Rose Falcone, PEOPLE.com, 9 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French cumpasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compassare to pace off, from Latin com- + passus pace
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1523, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing compass
Kids Definition
compass
noun
com·pass ˈkəm-pəs
1
: a device having a magnetic needle that indicates direction on the earth's surface by pointing toward the north
2
: an instrument for drawing circles or marking measurements consisting of two pointed legs joined at the top by a pivot —usually used in pl.
3
: range entry 1 sense 2, scope
He is within the compass of my voice.
compass 1 of 2
noun
1
as in direction
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a young go-getter who lost his moral compass in the course of his quest for fame and fortune Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- direction
- focus
- purpose
- polestar
- lodestar
- object
- objective
- touchstone
- loadstar
- goal
- intention
- standard
- ambition
- measure
- criterion
- yardstick
- cynosure
- aim
- benchmark
- grade
- target
- mark
- aspiration
- dream
- par
2
as in scope
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends within the compass of my voice Synonyms & Similar Words
- scope
- confines
- extent
- realm
- range
- width
- amplitude
- reach
- circle
- breadth
- sweep
- sphere
- ambit
- spectrum
- element
- domain
- dimension(s)
- department
- terrain
- field
- discipline
- province
- region
- panorama
- frontier
- specialty
- bailiwick
- gamut
- horizon
- fief
- spread
- fiefdom
- demesne
3
as in perimeter
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something within the compass of the city walls Synonyms & Similar Words
- perimeter
- circumference
- boundary
- edge
- confines
- border
- edging
- rim
- margin
- periphery
- frame
- end
- brim
- skirt
- fringe
- bound
- hem
- verge
- skirting
- borderline
- shore
- lip
- crest
- extent
- outskirts
- march
- measure
- ceiling
- brink
- frontier
- mere
- curb
- maximum
- limitation
- ambit
- restriction
- pale
- cusp
- demarcation
- lap
- borderland
- termination
- selvage
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heart
- center
- core
- interior
- within
- inside
- middle
- inner
compass
2 of 2verb
1
as in to accomplish
to carry through (as a process) to completion attempting more than his modest abilities could compass Synonyms & Similar Words
- accomplish
- fulfill
- do
- execute
- achieve
- perform
- make
- carry out
- fulfil
- carry off
- implement
- pull off
- complete
- put through
- bring off
- practice
- prosecute
- effect
- negotiate
- finish
- commit
- realize
- ace
- go through
- bring about
- perpetrate
- practise
- attain
- nail
- wind up
- effectuate
- follow through (with)
- end
- repeat
- actualize
- reduplicate
- engage (in)
- work (at)
- reenact
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fail
- slight
- slur
- skimp
2
as in to circle
to travel completely around the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth Synonyms & Similar Words
- circle
- orbit
- traverse
- ring
- circuit
- round
- cross
- girdle
- encircle
- circumnavigate
- circumvent
- circumambulate
- perambulate
3
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king Synonyms & Similar Words
- plot
- scheme
- plan
- intrigue
- connive
- map
- contrive
- machinate
- engineer
- conspire
- collude
- design
- devise
- hatch
- counterplot
- shape
- put up
- maneuver
- brew
- manipulate
- jockey
- concoct
- cook (up)
- frame
- lay out
4
as in to surround
to form a circle around a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas Synonyms & Similar Words
- circle
- surround
- ring
- encircle
- girdle
- environ
- encompass
- gird
- wall
- inclose
- enclose
- wreathe
- embrace
- circumscribe
- close in
- swarm
- beset
- intrench
- hem (in)
- fence (in)
- cordon (off)
- besiege
- entrench
- invest
5
as in to know
to have a clear idea of the concept that the earth is billions of years old is one that the average mind struggles to compass Synonyms & Similar Words
- know
- understand
- grasp
- sense
- decipher
- recognize
- comprehend
- see
- appreciate
- twig
- discern
- get
- perceive
- savvy
- realize
- intuit
- make out
- conceive
- apprehend
- behold
- dig
- make
- register
- seize
- assimilate
- pick up on
- tumble (to)
- catch on (to)
- catch
- cognize
- grok
- decode
- cotton (to or on to)
- take in
- fathom
- pierce
- digest
- penetrate
- absorb
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miss
- misread
- mistake
- misunderstand
- misinterpret
- misperceive
- misconstrue
- misapprehend
- misconceive
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of compass are gamut, orbit, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.
your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study
While the synonyms gamut and compass are close in meaning, gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.
a performance that ran the gamut of emotions
In some situations, the words orbit and compass are roughly equivalent. However, orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.
within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change
The meanings of range and compass largely overlap; however, range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.
the entire range of human experience
The words scope and compass can be used in similar contexts, but scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.
as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened
Although the words sweep and compass have much in common, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.
the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity