construct
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
-
something constructed.
Each musical note sign is a construct of three distinct parts: the head, the stem, and the hook.
-
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
-
to put together substances or parts, esp systematically, in order to make or build (a building, bridge, etc); assemble
-
to compose or frame mentally (an argument, sentence, etc)
-
geometry to draw (a line, angle, or figure) so that certain requirements are satisfied
noun
-
something formulated or built systematically
-
a complex idea resulting from a synthesis of simpler ideas
-
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.
Related Words
See make 1.
Other Word Forms
- constructible adjective
- constructor noun
- overconstruct verb (used with object)
- preconstruct verb (used with object)
- quasi-constructed adjective
- well-constructed adjective
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
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.
The project aims to construct a massive ballroom on the site of the White House's East Wing -- previously best known for housing the First Lady's offices.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
Liquefaction facilities, meanwhile, are highly specialized engineering megaprojects that take years to construct and significantly longer to repair than conventional oil fields.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
Before you construct your egg, think about what toppings you’d like to incorporate.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
Under this societal construct, how are men supposed to take seriously a disease that bears the name of a body part so associated with the opposite gender?
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
I mean, I couldn’t keep them all, and it’d be better for all the kids at St. Nick to be able to use them and construct all kinds of junk with them.
From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.