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; 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.

Example Sentences

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

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Now running at Catch One, “Brassroots District” aims to concoct a fantasy vision of 1974, but creators Ari Herstand and Andrew Leib aren’t after pure nostalgia.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

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

“Velma, is this the hooligan who had access to your so-called elixir? More like the devil’s brew if you ask me. Is that the kind of thing you concoct in your chemistry class?”

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Related Words

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