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

His court conviction for misappropriating funds, widely seen as concocted, was later canceled, but he left Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and says he has no plans to return.

From The Wall Street Journal

Safdie even concocts a subplot in which he invents his signature orange ball solely so he can wear all-white like the posh jocks of Wimbledon.

From Los Angeles Times

The cast may swap roles, the audience may concoct a monster — my group envisioned a giant, destructive slice of pumpkin pie — and settings will shift based on audience vote, done via smartphone.

From Los Angeles Times

“He then used those records to concoct fanciful allegations of mortgage fraud, which he referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution.”

From Los Angeles Times

But that charge was barred by the statute of limitations, so the district attorney went to work concocting a felony, which has a longer statute of limitations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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