construct
gb/kˈɑnstɹʌkt/ us/kˈɑnstɹʌkt/
B1
English
~ 2300
épít, összeszerel, kidolgoz, felépít, megalkot, konstrukció, konstruktum
VERB
B1
1
épít
A1
összeszerel
B1
Usage pattern:
to construct [something]
The company plans to construct a new office downtown.
A cég azt tervezi, hogy új irodaházat épít a belvárosban.
They constructed the bridge in less than two years.
Kevesebb mint két év alatt építették meg a hidat.
Workers are busy constructing houses along the river.
The engineer constructed a scale model of the dam.
We constructed a shelter from wood and metal sheets.
Learner examples
They will construct a new school.
Új iskolát fognak építeni.
Workers construct roads in the summer.
A munkások nyáron utakat építenek.
My father constructs wooden chairs.
We construct a small house for our dog.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'construct' with 'design'; 'construct' means to actually build, not just plan.
Meaning
To build or put together
Collocations
construct a building
|construct a bridge
|construct a road
|construct a model
|construct a sentence
Synonyms
build (More common in everyday speech; often used for both physical and abstract things.)
Antonyms
demolish (Refers to taking apart or destroying a structure.)
Themes
construction
|engineering
|daily life
|daily_life
|work
|technology
Definition
To make something by joining parts together.
To build or assemble something by putting parts together in an ordered way.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to construct [an argument/a theory/a plan]
She constructed a convincing argument for the proposal.
Meggyőző érvelést épített fel a javaslat alátámasztására.
The scientists constructed a new theory based on the data.
A tudósok az adatok alapján új elméletet dolgoztak ki.
He constructed a detailed plan for the project.
They constructed a narrative that explained the events clearly.
Learner examples
I will construct a plan for the trip.
Kidolgozok egy tervet az utazáshoz.
She constructed an idea for the story.
Kidolgozott egy ötletet a történethez.
We construct arguments in class.
He constructed a theory about the weather.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'make' instead of 'construct' in formal contexts where precision is needed.
Meaning
To create an idea or argument
Collocations
construct an argument
|construct a theory
|construct a plan
|construct a narrative
Synonyms
formulate (More formal; emphasizes careful and precise creation of ideas.)
Antonyms
dismantle (In this sense, means to break apart an idea or argument.)
Themes
communication
|education
|thinking
|science
Definition
To make an idea or plan by thinking carefully and putting facts together.
To form an idea, theory, or argument by putting together various elements of information.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
konstrukció
B2
konstruktum
C1
Gender can be seen as a social construct.
A társadalmi nem társadalmi konstrukcióként is értelmezhető.
The model is a useful scientific construct for explaining behavior.
A modell hasznos tudományos konstruktum a viselkedés magyarázatára.
The building itself is an impressive construct.
Learner examples
A story is a mental construct.
Egy történet mentális konstruktum.
A bridge is a physical construct.
A híd fizikai konstrukció.
Money is a social construct.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'construct' (noun) with 'construction'; 'construction' refers more to the process or industry.
Meaning
Something built or created, physical or mental
Collocations
social construct
|theoretical construct
|mental construct
Synonyms
concept (Common for abstract ideas; less likely for physical objects.)
Antonyms
natural phenomenon (Refers to something that exists without being made by people.)
Themes
science
|education
|technology
Definition
Something made or created, which can be real like a building or abstract like an idea.
Something that has been built or formed, especially a theory, concept, or model in academic or technical contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
construct
IPA
GB/kˈɑnstɹʌkt/
US/kˈɑnstɹʌkt/
Syllables & stress
con - struct (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: construct
- Plural: constructs
Verb
- Base: construct
- 3rd Person Singular: constructs
- Present Participle: constructing
- Past: constructed
Word family
Forms
constructs
noun
constructing
verb
constructed
verb
Core family
construction
noun A2
constructive
adjective B2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unconstructive
adjective
destructive
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
deconstruct
verb
deconstruction
noun
Expressions
construct a sentence
1/kənstɹˈʌkt ə sˈɛntəns/
fixed phrase
Make a full sentence
To put words together to make a complete sentence.
Examples
- It’s important to know how to construct a sentence correctly.
- The child is learning to construct simple sentences.
construct an argument
1/kənstɹˈʌkt ən ˈɑɹɡjəmənt/
fixed phrase
Make reasons for your opinion
To give clear and connected reasons to support your opinion or idea.
Examples
- Students must learn how to construct an argument in essays.
- He constructed an argument against the new law.
social construct
1/sˈoʊʃəl kˈɑnstɹʌkt/
fixed phrase
An idea made by society
An idea that people in society agree on, but that does not exist naturally.
Examples
- Race is often described as a social construct.
- The concept of beauty is largely a social construct.