Construct Meaning
Construct Definition & Usage
To build or form something by combining parts or materials.
Examples
- "They are constructing a new bridge across the river."
- "The company plans to construct a new office building downtown."
- "He helped construct the house from the ground up."
- "The ancient Egyptians constructed massive pyramids using simple tools."
- "She spent the whole afternoon constructing a model of the Eiffel Tower out of cardboard."
To create or devise something, especially an idea, argument, or concept.
Examples
- "The writer constructed a complex narrative that explored themes of memory and identity."
- "He carefully constructed his argument to persuade the audience."
- "The artist constructed a surreal world in her paintings."
- "She constructed a timeline to help organize the historical events for her research."
- "They constructed a plan to improve the company’s efficiency."
To create a sentence, structure, or linguistic form by arranging words or phrases in a particular way.
Examples
- "In English, we construct sentences by following a subject-verb-object order."
- "The teacher showed how to construct a proper question in French."
- "He demonstrated how to construct complex sentences using conjunctions."
- "To construct a passive voice sentence, you need to use the appropriate form of the verb 'to be.'"
- "The professor helped the students construct grammatically correct paragraphs."
Cultural Context
The word 'construct' comes from the Latin 'construere,' meaning 'to heap together, pile up.' It has been widely used in the context of physical building since the 14th century. Over time, it evolved to encompass more abstract forms of creation, such as constructing arguments or ideas. The word is common in both academic and everyday contexts, especially related to building and problem-solving.
The Architect's Vision
Story
The Architect's Vision
As dawn broke over the city, Sarah, a young architect, stood at the edge of the construction site, surveying the half-built structure that would soon become the city’s tallest tower. Her dream had always been to construct something monumental, and today, her vision was taking shape. The team of workers was busy, but Sarah’s mind was occupied with the plans that had consumed her for months. She had carefully constructed every detail in her mind before laying it down on paper. Every beam, every floor, and every window had been accounted for in the blueprint. In a meeting that morning, Sarah had also been asked to construct an argument to present to the board, persuading them to approve the additional funding required for the final phase of construction. She meticulously constructed her argument, emphasizing the importance of the project for the city’s economy and its future. As Sarah reviewed the financial reports, she was reminded of the complexity of her work, not just in the literal construction of the building, but in the mental construction of ideas and strategies that guided it. At the same time, her colleagues discussed how they were constructing a new software system to monitor the building’s energy use once it was finished. Hours passed, and soon, the sun began to set. Sarah stood by the window of her temporary office, looking at the structure she had helped to create. The building was still under construction, but already it felt like a part of her, like something she had formed from the ground up. But there was more work to be done. She needed to construct the final pitch for the investors, making sure it was both persuasive and detailed enough to win their confidence. The day had been long, but as Sarah closed her laptop and prepared to leave, she couldn’t help but think that this was just the beginning. She had spent her life learning how to construct buildings and ideas, and in that moment, she knew that the two would always go hand in hand in her career.
Related Words
