construct

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To make something by putting its parts together, especially a building, road or other large object.

   Grammar: Takes an object: they constructed a bridge.

   Patterns

   • construct something
   • construct something from something

   The council plans to construct a new library near the station.

   They constructed a shelter from branches and tarps.

   The engineers constructed the dam in just two years.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To build up an abstract thing, such as an argument, sentence or theory, step by step.

   Grammar: Takes an object: construct an argument.

   Patterns

   • construct an argument
   • construct a sentence

   The lawyer constructed a careful argument from the evidence.

   Students must construct sentences using the new vocabulary.

   She constructed a timeline of the events from old letters.

3. 3nouncountableformal

   An idea or concept formed in the mind from simpler parts, often one that is not directly observable.

   Grammar: Often found in academic writing: a social construct.

   Patterns

   • a social construct
   • a theoretical construct

   Money is a social construct that works only because we trust it.

   Psychologists treat intelligence as a construct measured by tests.

   The model rests on a theoretical construct that is hard to test.

Word forms

Common combinations

construct a building

The firm will construct a building with solar panels.

construct a model

Pupils constructed a model of the solar system.

construct an argument

It is hard to construct an argument without evidence.

carefully constructed

The plot is carefully constructed to hide the twist.

social construct

Many scholars see race as a social construct.

Synonyms and how they differ

build

Build is the everyday word and works for almost anything, while construct sounds more formal and technical.

assemble

Assemble means putting ready-made parts together, as with furniture, rather than creating something from raw materials.

erect

Erect suits tall or upright things such as walls, tents or statues and suggests raising them into position.

fabricate

Fabricate suggests making in a factory, and it can also mean inventing something false, which construct does not.

Opposites

Word family

construction noun

the act or industry of building

constructive adjective

helpful and aimed at improvement

constructor noun

a person or company that builds

reconstruct verb

to build or piece together again

deconstruct verb

to analyze by taking apart

Commonly confused: construct or construe?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “construct”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words