construction
gb/kənstɹˈʌkʃən/ us/kənstɹˈʌkʃən/
A2
English
~ 1600
építés, építkezés, építőipar, építmény, szerkezet, épület, nyelvtani szerkezet, mondatszerkezet, értelmezés, jogértelmezés
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[construction] of [something]
The construction of the new shopping mall will take two years.
Az új bevásárlóközpont építése két évig fog tartani.
Heavy traffic is expected due to road construction.
Az útépítés miatt nagy torlódásra kell számítani.
She works in the construction industry.
The construction of the bridge was delayed by bad weather.
Construction began on the stadium last summer.
Learner examples
The construction of the school will finish in June.
Az iskola építése júniusban fejeződik be.
My uncle works in construction.
A nagybátyám az építőiparban dolgozik.
There is a lot of construction in our city.
We saw the construction of a new road.
Construction is noisy near my house.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'construction' (the process) with 'building' (the result).
Meaning
process of building something
Collocations
under construction
|construction site
|construction project
|construction worker
|construction materials
Synonyms
building (A more general term for making structures; slightly less technical.)
Antonyms
demolition (The act of tearing down structures, which is the opposite of building them.)
Themes
work
|infrastructure
|engineering
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The work of making buildings, roads, or other large things.
The act or process of building, assembling, or creating something, especially large structures such as houses, roads, or bridges.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
a [type] construction
That glass-and-steel construction is the new city library.
Az az üvegből és acélból készült építmény az új városi könyvtár.
The ancient stone constructions still stand today.
Az ősi kőépítmények még ma is állnak.
It's a temporary construction for the festival.
The architect designed a unique construction on the waterfront.
Learner examples
That construction is our new office.
Az az épület az új irodánk.
This old construction is very strong.
Ez a régi építmény nagyon masszív.
They built a wooden construction in the park.
The bridge is a big construction.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense when 'building' is more natural in everyday speech.
Meaning
a structure that has been built
Collocations
modern construction
|wooden construction
|temporary construction
Synonyms
structure (A neutral term for something that has been built; not limited to buildings.)
Antonyms
ruin (A destroyed or decayed structure, opposite of a complete and intact one.)
Themes
architecture
|infrastructure
|housing
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that has been built, like a house or bridge.
A building or other structure that has been made by assembling parts.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[grammatical/linguistic] construction
This sentence uses a rare grammatical construction.
Ebben a mondatban egy ritka nyelvtani szerkezet szerepel.
The passive voice is a common English construction.
A szenvedő szerkezet gyakori az angolban.
That awkward construction makes the sentence hard to read.
Learner examples
This is a long sentence construction.
Ez egy hosszú mondatszerkezet.
I learned a new grammar construction today.
Ma egy új nyelvtani szerkezetet tanultam.
That construction is not correct in English.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'translation' or 'composition', which are different activities.
Meaning
arrangement of words or phrases
Collocations
grammatical construction
|sentence construction
|awkward construction
Synonyms
structure (A broader term for arrangement; 'construction' is more specific to grammar or style.)
Antonyms
disorganization (Lack of orderly arrangement, opposite of structured word order.)
Themes
language
|grammar
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The way words are put together in a sentence.
The arrangement and relationship of words or phrases in a sentence; a grammatical structure.
NOUN
C1
4
értelmezés
B2
Usage pattern:
put [a/an] [adjective] construction on [something]
The court put a strict construction on the law.
A bíróság szigorúan értelmezte a törvényt.
You could put a different construction on his words.
A szavait másképp is lehetne értelmezni.
Her friendly tone allowed a positive construction of her remarks.
Learner examples
He put a bad construction on my words.
Rosszindulatúan értelmezte a szavaimat.
The judge gave a new construction to the law.
A bíró új értelmezést adott a törvénynek.
We can put many constructions on this text.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this formal/legal meaning and confuse it with building-related senses.
Meaning
interpretation of meaning or intent
Collocations
put a positive construction on
|legal construction
Synonyms
interpretation (A broader term; 'construction' is often used in formal or legal contexts for interpretation.)
Antonyms
misinterpretation (An incorrect understanding, which contrasts with an intended or accurate interpretation.)
Themes
law
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The meaning you understand from what someone says or writes.
The way in which something such as a statement, action, or law is understood or interpreted.
Grammar
Dictionary form
construction
IPA
GB/kənstɹˈʌkʃən/
US/kənstɹˈʌkʃən/
Syllables & stress
con - struc - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (struc)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: construction
- Plural: construction, constructions
Word family
Forms
constructions
noun
Core family
construct
verb B1
constructive
adjective B2
Related words
constructively
adverb
constructor
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
reconstruct
verb B2
reconstruction
noun B2
Expressions
put a positive construction on something
1/pˈʊt ə pˈɑzɪtɪv kənstɹˈʌkʃən ˈɔn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
interpret as good or hopeful
To understand something as meaning something good or hopeful.
Examples
- She tried to put a positive construction on his comments.
- We can put a positive construction on these results despite the setbacks.
under construction
1/ˈʌndɚ kənstɹˈʌkʃən/
fixed phrase
being built right now
Not finished yet; still being built.
Examples
- The new library is under construction and will open next year.
- This website is under construction and some pages are missing.
construction site
1/kənstɹˈʌkʃən sˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
place where building work occurs
An area where people are building something.
Examples
- Children should not play near a construction site.
- Hard hats must be worn at all times on the construction site.
- The construction site was noisy all day.
- We passed a noisy construction site on our way to school.