concoct

American  

[kon-kokt, kuhn-] / kɒnˈkɒkt, kən- /

verb (used with object)

1. to prepare or make by combining ingredients, especially in cooking.

   We concocted a meal from leftovers since no one had time to stop at the store.

2. to devise; make up; contrive.

   He'll have to concoct an excuse for his absence if he wants to keep the job.

   Synonyms:

   hatch, fabricate, invent

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concoct British  

/ kənˈkɒkt /

verb

1. to make by combining different ingredients

2. to invent; make up; contrive

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Other Word Forms

• concocter noun
• concoctive adjective
• concoctor noun
• well-concocted adjective

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; pepsin, peptic ) + -tus past participle ending

Example Sentences

We live and breathe stories: We concoct them; we relate them; we react to them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

In other words, it’s a love story only this pair could concoct.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

In fact, he so frequently challenges the producers to concoct new plans on the fly that they're drawn into an actual competition they cannot lose with the man they're trying to fool.

From Salon • Jan. 21, 2025

The man is not a natural broadcaster, and he is not able to concoct the synapse-flaring secret sauce that makes everyone from Rachel Maddow to Jesse Watters so watchable.

From Slate • Jan. 12, 2025

Shackleton had consulted the British Army’s nutritionist, who believed in the newfangled idea of vitamins and who helped concoct the rations.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Related Words

• contrive
• create
• devise
• discover
• dream up
• envision
• fabricate
• hatch
• invent