construct

American  

[kuhn-struhkt, kon-struhkt] / kənˈstrʌkt, ˈkɒn strʌkt /

verb (used with object)

• constructs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• constructed,
  past participle,  past
• constructing
  present participle

1. to build or form by putting together parts; frame; devise.

   Synonyms:

   form, erect

2. Geometry. to draw (a figure) fulfilling certain given conditions.

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noun

• constructs
  plural

1. something constructed.

   Each musical note sign is a construct of three distinct parts: the head, the stem, and the hook.

2. 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.

construct British  

verb

1. to put together substances or parts, esp systematically, in order to make or build (a building, bridge, etc); assemble

2. to compose or frame mentally (an argument, sentence, etc)

3. geometry to draw (a line, angle, or figure) so that certain requirements are satisfied

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noun

1. something formulated or built systematically

2. a complex idea resulting from a synthesis of simpler ideas

3. 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

• constructor
  noun
• overconstruct
  verb (used with object)
• preconstruct
  verb (used with object)
• constructible
  adjective
• quasi-constructed
  adjective
• well-constructed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• constructs
  plural

Participles

• constructing
  present
• constructed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• construct
  simple
• constructs
  simple
• have constructed
  perfect
• has constructed
  perfect
• am constructing
  progressive
• are constructing
  progressive
• is constructing
  progressive
• have been constructing
  perfect progressive
• has been constructing
  perfect progressive

Past

• constructed
  simple
• had constructed
  perfect
• was constructing
  progressive
• were constructing
  progressive
• had been constructing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will construct
  simple
• will have constructed
  perfect
• will be constructing
  progressive
• will have been constructing
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

construct constructs constructed constructing

Zhu fused international market principles with domestic realities in a construct his officials called a “socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Money itself is just a construct, one with rules dreamt up by humans.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

This chef is also a fictional construct by “Tony” writer-director Matt Johnson and co-writers Todd Bartels, Lou Howe and Matthew Miller.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

A couple of years ago they decided to have a French company construct their orangery because of their experience with higher European temperatures.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

It only took a few minutes for Wind Being to construct a complex sand painting around Nathan and Pond.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

"What you see them do is navigate a world with the constructs of capitalism," he says.

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026

Roan’s lipstick gone “awry” on her teeth brings a camp sensibility to both mock and celebrate feminine performance that resists traditional heteronormative constructs.

From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2026

In the other half, we reduced expression using "Tough Decoy" constructs.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 17, 2026

On this promising foundation, Ms. Day constructs a drama that is airy yet biting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026

Alone in his flat, Marco constructs tiny rooms from scraps of paper.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Their conversation explores characters who hide their true nature behind carefully constructed personas, the role of technology in enabling obsession and revenge, and the social rituals that define contemporary London.

From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2026

He brought with him perhaps 60,000 soldiers, along with numerous cannons, some of enormous size, to besiege the city; a newly constructed fleet patrolled the Bosporus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

That pool’s 10-meter platform, originally constructed with a donation from the late televangelist Gene Scott, will be torn down and replaced.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

The company was based at the Old Vic for 13 years before moving into its purpose-built home, which was constructed between 1969 and 1976.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Thus what Koyré took to be the key concept that made possible the new science, the concept of inertia, was, he held, constructed by Galileo thinking about everyday experience, by a mere thought experiment.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

This suggests AI may prove to be just as valuable for discovering unexpected mathematical objects as it is for constructing proofs.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

Decking out background actors on the HBO period drama is months in the making, with in-house milliners tasked with constructing eye-catching headwear.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

I found myself surprisingly moved by the meditative activities and programming, even if it felt silly at first to be constructing a mandala with leaves and twigs in the middle of a workweek.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Rather than passively consuming a finished narrative, audiences actively participate in constructing and navigating the environment itself.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

Though he does like to talk about social media as a vehicle for constructing and performing identity.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

Related Words

• build up
• compose
• create
• design
• erect
• establish
• fashion
• forge
• form
• formulate
• found
• manufacture
• organize
• produce
• put up
• set up
• shape