concrete

concrete — adjective

1. real and able to be seen, touched, or experienced directly, rather than being ju

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

real and able to be seen, touched, or experienced directly, rather than being just an idea or theory — for example, concrete evidence that proves someone was at the scene, or concrete plans that show exactly what will be done.

Example

The police officer asked for concrete evidence, not just gossip from neighbours.

collocation: concrete evidence / concrete proof

Minh needed concrete proof before she could report the problem to her boss.

Common collocations
  • concrete evidence
  • concrete proof
  • concrete plan
  • concrete details
  • concrete results
  • concrete example
Synonyms
  • specific

    focuses on precise details rather than general ideas; concrete is broader

  • tangible

    stresses physical touch; concrete can also describe non-physical things like proof

  • definite

    emphasizes certainty and clarity; concrete adds the idea of being real or solid

  • solid

    informal synonym; concrete is more formal

Antonyms
  • abstract

    concrete refers to real things; abstract refers to ideas and theories

  • vague

    concrete is clear; vague is unclear or indefinite

Grammar Patterns

concrete + noun

Usage Note

Commonly pairs with nouns such as evidence, proof, plan, detail, and result. The opposite meaning is abstract.

Common Mistakes

She gave me concrete instructions to turn left at the corner.
She gave me specific instructions to turn left at the corner.
Concrete works best for evidence, plans, and results; use specific for step-by-step directions.

2. made of the hard grey building material that is a mixture of cement, sand, stone

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

made of the hard grey building material that is a mixture of cement, sand, stones, and water.

Example

The concrete floor in the garage was cold and damp during winter.

concrete + noun (floor, wall, pillar, path, fence)

Obi leaned against the concrete wall outside the train station.

Common collocations
  • concrete floor
  • concrete wall
  • concrete path
  • concrete fence
  • concrete block
  • concrete pillar
Synonyms
  • cement

    cement is an ingredient of concrete, not a synonym; learners often confuse the two

Grammar Patterns

concrete + noun

Usage Note

Typically modifies nouns for building elements: floor, wall, pillar, path, fence, block, slab.

3. formed into a single hard mass from separate particles or parts, usually by a na

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

formed into a single hard mass from separate particles or parts, usually by a natural process such as cooling or drying.

Example

The hot lava formed a concrete mass as it flowed down the mountain slope.

concrete mass (geological formation)

Inside the cave, minerals built up into a concrete layer on the rock surface.

Common collocations
  • concrete mass
  • concrete layer
  • concrete block
Synonyms
  • solidified

    more common in everyday language; concrete is formal and technical

  • hardened

    broader meaning; concrete is more specific about particle coalescence

Antonyms
  • loose

    separate particles that have not bonded together

  • powdery

    a substance in fine, separate grains

Grammar Patterns

concrete + mass / layer / block

Usage Note

Technical or formal register. Rarely used in everyday conversation; the verb sense solidify is more common for this idea.

concrete — noun

concrete — verb

Word family

  • concretely
    adverbB2
  • concretion
    nounC1
  • concretize
    verbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Concrete, specific, tangible, and definite all describe things that are clear and real rather than vague or abstract. Concrete emphasises that something can be seen, touched, or experienced directly — 'concrete evidence' means proof you can examine or understand clearly. Specific focuses on precise details rather than general ideas: 'specific instructions' tell you exactly what to do step by step. Tangible stresses that something can be physically touched: 'tangible assets' are objects you can hold, such as buildings or equipment. Definite means clearly stated and not open to doubt: 'a definite answer' leaves no room for confusion. Use concrete for real-world proof and results, specific for precise details, tangible for physical objects, and definite for clear, non-negotiable statements.

concrete ↗specific ↗tangible ↗definite ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • concretely

Phrases

Prepositions

  • in concrete
  • of concrete
  • with concrete
  • over (concrete over)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word concrete entered English from Latin concretus, meaning 'grown together' or 'hardened'. It is formed from con- (together) and crescere (to grow). The sense of a building material appeared in the 1800s, while the idea of 'specific and real rather than abstract' has been in use since the 1600s.