construct
KON-struhkt
Construct (verb) means to build something by putting parts together. Example: “Children love to construct towers from wooden blocks on the carpet.”
verb
1
To build something by putting parts together.
"Children love to construct towers from wooden blocks on the carpet."
"Workers constructed the bridge in under two years."
"She constructed a compelling argument from the evidence."
noun
1
An idea, model, or concept built up from simpler parts.
"Time zones are a human construct built from simple rules."
"The teacher explained that a grade is a construct made from several test scores."
"Race is often described by sociologists as a social construct."
How to use construct
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo build something, or (as a noun) an idea built from other ideas.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
construct a building
construct an argument
social construct
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Word forms
- Plural
- constructs
- Third person singular
- constructs
- Past tense
- constructed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Children love to _____ towers from wooden blocks on the carpet.
Etymology
From Latin construere, "to heap together," from com- ("together") + struere ("to pile up"). A close cousin of "construe."
Synonyms
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build
assemble
erect
fabricate
engineer
put together
make
manufacture
reconstruct
retrace
concept
conception
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for construct
See all rhymes for construct →Frequently asked questions
What does “construct” mean?
The word “construct” means to build something by putting parts together. In plain terms, to build something, or (as a noun) an idea built from other ideas.
How do you pronounce “construct”?
“Construct” is pronounced KON-struhkt (/ˈkɑn.stɹʌkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “construct” in a sentence?
Here is “construct” used in a sentence: “Workers constructed the bridge in under two years.”
What is another word for “construct”?
Words with a similar meaning to “construct” include something constructed from parts.
What is the opposite of “construct”?
The opposite of “construct” — its antonyms — are destroy, disassemble, dismantle, ruin and wreck.
What part of speech is “construct”?
Depending on how it is used, “construct” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “construct” come from?
The word “construct” comes from Latin. From Latin construere, "to heap together," from com- ("together") + struere ("to pile up"). A close cousin of "construe.".
Is “construct” a common word?
“Construct” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between construct and build?
Build is the everyday word for making something, from houses to friendships. Construct is more formal and stresses assembling parts systematically, so it suits engineering, official writing, and abstract things such as arguments or theories.
What is a social construct?
A social construct is an idea or category that people collectively create and agree on rather than one that exists independently in nature; money and table manners are often-cited examples. The phrase draws on the noun sense of construct: a concept built up from simpler parts.
Is construct stressed differently as a noun and as a verb?
Yes. The noun is stressed on the first syllable (CON-struct), while the verb is stressed on the second (con-STRUCT). The same shift appears in pairs like record, permit, and increase.
What is a construct in psychology?
In psychology, a construct is a concept built to describe something that cannot be observed directly, such as intelligence, motivation, or anxiety. Researchers define constructs precisely so they can be measured through tests and observable behaviour.
