concrete
KONK-reet
Concrete (noun) means a hard building material made by mixing cement, water, sand, and gravel, which sets solid. Example: “The workers poured concrete for the new foundation.”
noun
1
A hard building material made by mixing cement, water, sand, and gravel, which sets solid.
"The workers poured concrete for the new foundation."
"Cracks had formed in the old concrete pavement."
"Children had scratched their names into the wet concrete outside the school."
adjective
1
Actual and specific rather than vague or abstract.
"She asked for concrete proof, not just promises."
"We need a concrete plan, not just good intentions."
"Instead of vague advice, the coach gave the team concrete examples of what to improve."
How to use concrete
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the solid grey building material, or (as an adjective) something definite and real rather than vague.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the adjective sense (specific, real) with "abstract" — they are near opposites.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
concrete evidence
concrete plan
pour concrete
concrete floor
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Word forms
- Plural
- concretes
- Third person singular
- concretes
- Past tense
- concreted
- Comparative
- concreter
- Superlative
- concretest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The workers poured _____ for the new foundation.
Etymology
From Latin concretus, past participle of concrescere ("to grow together, harden"), from con- ("together") plus crescere ("to grow").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for concrete
See all rhymes for concrete →Frequently asked questions
What does “concrete” mean?
The word “concrete” means a hard building material made by mixing cement, water, sand, and gravel, which sets solid. In plain terms, either the solid grey building material, or (as an adjective) something definite and real rather than vague.
How do you pronounce “concrete”?
“Concrete” is pronounced KONK-reet (/ˌkɑnˈkɹit/ in IPA).
How do you use “concrete” in a sentence?
Here is “concrete” used in a sentence: “The workers poured concrete for the new foundation.”
What part of speech is “concrete”?
Depending on how it is used, “concrete” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “concrete” come from?
The word “concrete” comes from Latin. From Latin concretus, past participle of concrescere ("to grow together, harden"), from con- ("together") plus crescere ("to grow").
Is “concrete” a common word?
“Concrete” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “concrete” have?
“Concrete” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard building material made by mixing cement, water, sand, and gravel, which sets solid.
What is the difference between concrete and cement?
Cement is just one ingredient — a powdered binder made from limestone and clay. Concrete is the finished building material, made by mixing cement with water, sand, and gravel so that it sets rock-hard. People often say 'cement' when they mean concrete, but cement is only the glue that holds concrete together.
What is the difference between concrete and abstract?
As an adjective, 'concrete' means real, specific, and tangible — something you can see or touch, like a concrete example or concrete evidence. 'Abstract' means conceptual or theoretical, existing only as an idea. The solid building material lends its firmness to this figurative sense of being definite and dependable.
What is concrete made of?
Concrete is made by mixing cement, water, sand, and gravel or crushed stone. The cement and water form a paste that coats the sand and gravel, then hardens through a chemical reaction called curing, binding everything into a solid, durable mass used for foundations, roads, and buildings.
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