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.

---

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

---

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

He then promoted his work in San Diego to improve student performance, raise teacher salaries and construct “environmentally sustainable schools built by union workers.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

These scans allowed the team to construct detailed topographical maps showing how the DNA molecules were positioned.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026

So far, though, there are no binding agreements to fund, construct, own or operate this facility.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

Plans to construct facilities were not universally embraced.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

That night in her room, Seven reinforced the wards her parents had helped her construct at her window.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Once the selected become official members of the Green Lantern Corps, they can wield their rings to create astronomical constructs.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

He and Erkılıç have achieved international acclaim for their team’s decades of foundational experimentation collaborating with dataset intelligences at the AI frontier, as well as for architecturally-scaled, narratively engaged visual embodiments of abstract technological constructs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

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

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026

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

From Science Daily ● Feb. 17, 2026

These constructs may mock our self-importance, but approaching the world in any other way seems painfully naive.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

"These next steps could help us better understand when the stones were moved and how these extraordinary monuments were constructed," Dr. Clarke said.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026

Jacobs’ residence is constructed from stone and plaster, with a slate roof and copper trim.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

He’ll be manning a pro-style scheme in 2026 constructed by first-time offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville, who comes to Berkeley after three years as Baker Mayfield’s assistant quarterbacks coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

The cart, constructed primarily from wood and styrofoam, carried dummies and was repeatedly transported back to the starting point for a continuous ride through a push and pull system.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

He didn’t want to hang a man simply because he had constructed a seductive tale.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

The two sides are talking about laying underwater cables to link Europe and Canada, and jointly constructing data centers, cloud storage and new satellite networks beyond the reach of American tech giants.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

In contrast, neighboring Utah recycles very little of its water and is even constructing artificial recreational projects far inland, he said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

He said that principle was essential to "constructing an economy that is fit for the 21st Century".

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

"Evolution is chiseling a sculpture, not constructing a building," Gokcumen said.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026

In these and other modal traditions, the rules for constructing a piece of music are quite different than the rules for music that is based on a scale.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

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