composed himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "composed himself" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who has regained their calmness or self-control, often after a moment of distress or agitation. Example: "After hearing the unexpected news, he took a deep breath and composed himself before responding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But he quickly composed himself.

The New York Times

And then he composed himself.

The New Yorker

Cook was angry, but quickly composed himself.

The New York Times - Sports

Gaze stopped, composed himself and blushed.

The New York Times - Sports

Wu had composed himself during the ride over.

The New Yorker

In his second message he has composed himself.

The New Yorker

"It's madness, innit?" Cockerill said, after he had composed himself sufficiently to pass comment.

Independent

After he composed himself, he explained that his office was too embarrassingly unkempt for public consumption.

The New York Times - Magazine

But within a minute or so he composed himself and spoke to the huge crowd.

Independent

Then he composed himself and vaguely said he had considered doing some things differently.

The New York Times - Sports

He composed himself, dusted off his shirt, and rejoined Eter and the translator.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "composed himself" to describe a deliberate action of regaining control after experiencing a strong emotion or stressful situation. This implies a conscious effort to appear calm and collected.

Common error

Avoid using "composed himself" when simply describing someone who is naturally calm. The phrase implies a prior state of agitation or distress that the person has actively overcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "composed himself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase indicating the action of regaining one's composure, self-control, or calmness after a period of emotional distress or agitation. Ludwig examples show it used in news and media to describe people's reaction to unexpected events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "composed himself" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe someone regaining their composure after experiencing emotional distress. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase appears frequently in News & Media and implies a conscious effort to restore calmness. When using this phrase, remember that it suggests a prior state of agitation, and be mindful of the gender of the subject. Alternatives like "regained his composure" or "calmed down" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regained his composure

Focuses on regaining a state of calmness.

calmed down

A simpler and more direct way of expressing regained calmness.

pulled himself together

Highlights the effort required to overcome emotional distress.

collected his thoughts

Emphasizes organizing one's thoughts after confusion.

got a grip

An informal way to say someone regained control of their emotions.

mastered his emotions

Focuses on controlling one's emotions.

steeled himself

Implies preparing for something difficult or unpleasant.

recovered his equilibrium

Highlights a return to a balanced state, both emotionally and mentally.

found his center

Suggests a return to inner peace and focus.

got his act together

Implies organizing oneself and becoming more efficient or effective.

FAQs

How can I use "composed himself" in a sentence?

You can use "composed himself" to describe someone regaining their calmness after a shock, for example: "After the unexpected announcement, he took a deep breath and "composed himself" before speaking".

What can I say instead of "composed himself"?

You can use alternatives like "regained his composure", "collected his thoughts", or "calmed down" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "composed himself" and "calmed himself"?

"Composed himself" often implies a more deliberate and conscious effort to regain control, while "calmed himself" suggests a more general return to a state of peace. Think of "composed himself" when referring to someone trying to put on a brave face after a stressful event.

Is "composed herself" also correct?

Yes, "composed herself" is the correct form to use when referring to a female subject. The reflexive pronoun must agree in gender with the subject.