construct
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
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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:
DP World’s terminal project in Fujairah is expected to take 24 to 30 months to construct under a 50-year concession.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Paules said Nova Cottage has one ADU project underway in Altadena and has identified potential sites to construct its first village.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The researchers believe the bees mixed dirt with saliva to construct each tiny nest, which measured less than the size of a pencil eraser.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026
The construct of volatility derivatives has remained steadfastly bullish all month.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026
It was Schott’s book that inspired Robert Boyle to construct his own air pump in England, and it is perhaps not a coincidence that vacuum experiments were recommenced in Florence in 1657.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
"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
How many under-discussed societal constructs did “Seinfeld” shine a light on over the years?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
Finally, Leonardo constructs a clay model of the horse, which he needs to make the mold for the casting, and the model becomes the wonder of Milan.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
To the extent that this whole machinery of law and justice and representative democracy was constructed for anyone, it was constructed for you.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
China has constructed some large-scale batteries, and a trial has also taken place in Scotland.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Lopez said those breaks were not related to each other or to Thursday’s fracture of the far bigger pipe in West Hollywood, which was constructed in 1916.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Another is Bernstein’s Mark Newman, who recently raised his price target to $3,000 from $1,700, also citing the new paradigm in how agreements for memory are constructed.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Technical proofs have to be constructed by the advocate.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Dan Diorio, vice president of state policy for the Data Center Coalition, a trade group for technology companies constructing the facilities, said data centers are efficient water users and require far less than agriculture production.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
Intent on finding “language that has emotional not intellectual meaning to people,” Nolan opted to use colloquial, contemporary dialogue when constructing his script rather than artificially elevated speech.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
So, let’s learn a bit more about grammar, about constructing coherent sentences, which will lead to more coherent thinking.
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
By constructing the molecules from scratch in the laboratory, they confirmed the precise structures of secalosides A and B for the first time.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026
I am writing to you today from the steps of the Capitol building they are constructing here in Washington.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.