concoct
Americanverb (used with object)
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concocts,
present (3rd person singular)
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concocted,
past participle, past
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concocting
present participle
verb
-
to make by combining different ingredients
-
to invent; make up; contrive
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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concoctsimple
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concoctssimple
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have concoctedperfect
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has concoctedperfect
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am concoctingprogressive
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are concoctingprogressive
-
is concoctingprogressive
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have been concoctingperfect progressive
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has been concoctingperfect progressive
Past
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concoctedsimple
-
had concoctedperfect
-
was concoctingprogressive
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were concoctingprogressive
-
had been concoctingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of concoct
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin concoctus (past participle of concoquere “to cook together”), equivalent to con- con- + coc-, variant stem of coquere “to boil, cook 1 ” from Greek péptein; see pepsin, peptic) + -tus past participle ending
Explanation
When you concoct something, you mix up different ingredients. If you want to become a mad scientist or a wizard, you'll have to learn how to concoct strange potions. If the word concoction makes you think of steaming caldrons or liquids bubbling in test tubes, you’ll be amused to know that it comes from a Latin word for “digestion.” Yum! On summer days, children sometimes concoct imaginative stews from grass, leaves and dirt. They may also concoct lies to explain why they tried feeding such concoctions to their little sister.
Vocabulary lists containing concoct
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And Then There Were None
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And even though a cellphone can now checkmate Garry Kasparov, artificial intelligence hasn’t managed to concoct a foolproof plan to win every time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
It’s almost possible to concoct a silver lining from this dreadful situation, but only by focusing on short-term electoral politics in the most bloodless and instrumental fashion.
From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026
Rather, he’s using a shoestring budget to concoct left-of-center sights that feel like a peek into a specific Los Angeles netherworld.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
We live and breathe stories: We concoct them; we relate them; we react to them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
With no time to concoct a lie, I said, "Widge."
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
Whatever the excuse the angry man concocts, the impetus is always the same: The eyes of a woman are directed at someone or something that is not him, and he is indignant over it.
From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2024
In 2002, Judge Zagel published “Money to Burn,” a novel about a federal judge who concocts a daring robbery of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
From New York Times ● Jul. 21, 2023
Each weekday, your host, Ray Hamel, concocts a challenging set of unique questions on a specific topic.
From Slate ● Jun. 12, 2023
Multicellular living matter concocts its own schemes, which means cells won't necessarily stay in the same place or state.
From Scientific American ● May 31, 2023
Spike concocts what looks like a gourmet meal out of the regular offerings of the cafeteria.
From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon
It said it was "concocted well after the event in an attempt to obscure and conceal the realities of the disguised funding scheme".
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
The middle stretch has a concocted outdoor chase sequence that feels like a clumsy campground slasher.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
But John believes all of it to be an elaborate publicity stunt concocted by Arcane — or, at least, that’s what he tells himself.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
The original Monticello was a thoroughly conventional house, a gentleman-amateur’s effort diligently concocted out of the standard pattern-books.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
The creature sank back onto its haunches, poised to spring, and in that moment, Celaena came up with the most reckless and brave plan she’d ever concocted.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
Baldoni denied wrongdoing and accused Lively of concocting false allegations as part of an effort to wrest creative control of the film.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
The BBC has seen the police tapes for the first time, showing Alex concocting a fake story about his mother and grandfather's whereabouts.
From BBC ● May 13, 2026
“Making fake biography, false history, concocting a half-imaginary existence out of the actual drama of my life is my life,” he once said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
It’s a lot of pressure, concocting a flawless ending.
From Salon ● Dec. 17, 2024
Rachel worried that her daughter did not gain, and fussed over the fire concocting nourishing stews which Mercy obediently tried to swallow.
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
