construct
Americanverb (used with object)
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constructs,
present (3rd person singular)
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constructed,
past participle, past
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constructing
present participle
noun
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constructs
plural
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something constructed.
Each musical note sign is a construct of three distinct parts: the head, the stem, and the hook.
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a mental image, idea, or theory, especially a complex one formed from a number of simpler elements.
Character is a construct of personal values, personal rules and morals, and a number of other facets, including self-control and willpower.
verb
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to put together substances or parts, esp systematically, in order to make or build (a building, bridge, etc); assemble
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to compose or frame mentally (an argument, sentence, etc)
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geometry to draw (a line, angle, or figure) so that certain requirements are satisfied
noun
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something formulated or built systematically
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a complex idea resulting from a synthesis of simpler ideas
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psychol a model devised on the basis of observation, designed to relate what is observed to some theoretical framework
Usage
What does construct mean? To construct means to build or create by putting parts together, as in Val constructed a whole town out of toy building blocks. A construct is something that is created, often with a complex form. The verb form of construct, pronounced kuhn-struhkt, is most often used to refer to buildings and monuments being built, but it can be used in any situation where something is built or parts are combined. You can construct a meal, for example, out of ingredients in your refrigerator or construct an outfit out of articles of clothing in your closet. The noun form of construct, pronounced kon-struhkt, is anything that is built, either literally or figuratively. It is most often used figuratively to describe something that is made up of practices or ideas from a specific philosophy or school of thought. Constructs are often complex theories that are informed by many smaller ideas of the way things work. Example: The gas company tried to construct a new pipeline, but the pipes kept leaking.
Synonym Usage
See make 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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constructornoun
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overconstructverb (used with object)
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preconstructverb (used with object)
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constructibleadjective
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quasi-constructedadjective
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well-constructedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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constructsimple
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constructssimple
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have constructedperfect
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has constructedperfect
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am constructingprogressive
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are constructingprogressive
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is constructingprogressive
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have been constructingperfect progressive
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has been constructingperfect progressive
Past
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constructedsimple
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had constructedperfect
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was constructingprogressive
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were constructingprogressive
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had been constructingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of construct
First recorded in 1400–50 for earlier past participle sense; 1655–65 for current senses; late Middle English, from Latin constrūctus (past participle of construere “to construe ”), equivalent to con- con- + strūc- (variant stem of struere “to build”) + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
To construct things is to build them. You might construct a sand castle the next time you're at the beach, or you might construct a theory about why your brother always manages to get away with breaking the rules. The verb construct comes from the Latin word constructus, meaning “to heap up.” If you work in construction you're in the business of building things, and you probably construct buildings, roads, municipal parks, and other large permanent structures. Students of psychology are familiar with the noun form of construct, which refers to an abstract concept. Much of psychological theory is founded on constructs — like gender, morality, and intelligence.
Vocabulary lists containing construct
Latin Love, Vol I: struere
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Ancient Egypt and Kush, Lessons 1–3
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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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:
There are other thoughts in this essential collection that readers may use to construct their own “to do” lists, which Alexander jokingly says could be “the next great literary genre.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
Meanwhile, new building codes, particularly around energy efficiency and fire suppression, have forced builders to construct more complex and expensive homes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
This allowed the researchers to construct a detailed three-dimensional picture of the superconductor's interior, exposing structural variations that conventional techniques had not revealed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026
Real Madrid's formula was seemingly simple: construct a team of the world's best players - spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo - and stick a legendary former star in charge.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
He says he can construct cannons, catapults, and other machines of war.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
Ghaderi says slidkrans is used particularly by healthcare professionals and in youth clinics but adds misinformation still exists emphasising the "need to change social constructs".
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
Ms. Fox constructs a clear, detailed and well-paced narrative of the siege.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
The ecosystem does not wait for evidence; it constructs a narrative framework into which evidence, if it ever appears, can be slotted later.
From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026
Heifetz is grounded in her decision by a central tenet of Earthseed, the fictional religion Butler constructs in “Parable of the Sower.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
If astrophysics developed, the existence of stars could eventually be deduced from the principles of physics, but they would be theoretical constructs only.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
The world-famous Wiltshire monument was constructed in multiple phases over thousands of years, between 3000 and 1600 BC.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
The filmmakers constructed a massive set in Mumbai for the central story settings, while VFX teams worked there and in London and Vancouver.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
It authorizes up to $25 billion in state-issued bonds to create a loan program to help middle-income Californians buy newly constructed homes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
These communities often constructed fortified sites, and strategically located settlements controlling surrounding territories.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
The city constructed a large pavilion in a park, and the casket lay on a platform decorated with flowers.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
F1 pulls it off by constructing a bubble where almost everyone observes the fiction that they are still in Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
This isn’t about optimizing every meal, spending three hours prepping identical containers or constructing the sort of Sunday routine that makes you feel behind when you inevitably skip it.
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
The arts center was founded by acclaimed Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama, who Florenz said has proposed constructing a permanent building for the coffins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Rather than constructing the desired quantum states one small piece at a time, their method can perform a wide variety of operations much faster.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
“I forget that you had a hand in constructing the fortifications on Bunker Hill.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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