construct

construct — verb

1. to make something large or complex, such as a building, bridge, or system, by jo

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make something large or complex, such as a building, bridge, or system, by joining separate parts or materials together

Example

The city has constructed a new hospital near the old market square.

present perfect: construct + direct object (hospital)

It took the team over two years to construct the main bridge across the river.

impersonal it + to-infinitive: it took + time + to construct

Common collocations
  • construct a building
  • construct a bridge
  • construct a road
  • construct a system
  • construct a house
  • construct a wall
Synonyms
  • build

    more general and informal; the usual word for making anything physical

  • assemble

    focuses on putting ready-made parts together rather than building from raw materials

  • erect

    used for putting up tall or vertical structures such as walls, tents, or statues

Antonyms
  • demolish

    to completely destroy a structure

Grammar Patterns

construct + [something]

Usage Note

More formal than the everyday verb "build"; often used for large-scale, long-term projects or things made from multiple distinct components.

Common Mistakes

They constructed a small shelf in their bedroom.
They built a small shelf in their bedroom.
'construct' sounds overly formal for small, simple DIY projects.
The birds constructed a nest in the tree.
The birds built a nest in the tree.
'construct' is not used for animal-made things in everyday English.

2. to accurately draw a shape, line, or angle in mathematics using strict rules and

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to accurately draw a shape, line, or angle in mathematics using strict rules and tools such as a compass or ruler

Example

First, construct a circle with a radius of exactly five centimetres.

imperative: construct + [geometric shape] + dimensions

Amira learned to construct an equilateral triangle using only a compass and a ruler.

learned + to-infinitive: learned to construct [shape] using [tools]

Common collocations
  • construct a triangle
  • construct a circle
  • construct a line
  • construct a square
  • construct an angle
  • construct a regular polygon
  • construct with a compass
Synonyms
  • draw

    general term; does not imply the strict mathematical rules that 'construct' does

  • plot

    used for marking points or coordinates on a graph rather than geometric shapes

Grammar Patterns

construct + [geometric shape/figure]

Usage Note

Restricted to geometry and technical drawing. The tools typically mentioned are a compass, a ruler (straightedge), and a protractor.

Common Mistakes

Construct a graph showing sales data.
Draw a graph showing sales data.
'construct' in maths is reserved for compass-and-ruler geometric figures, not general charts.
The student constructed a line between the two points on the map.
The student drew a line between the two points on the map.
'construct' implies a precise geometric procedure, not casual drawing.

construct — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

"Construct" and "build" overlap heavily, but "construct" is more formal and typically used for large, complex, or planned projects (bridges, buildings, systems), while "build" is the everyday word for anything from a bird's nest to a skyscraper. "Assemble" shifts the focus to putting pre-made parts together — you assemble furniture from a flat-pack or assemble a team, but you do not assemble a brick wall from raw clay. "Erect" is narrower: it means to set something upright (a tent, a statue, a wall), and sounds more technical than "build." "Put together" is the least formal and most flexible: it can replace any of the others in casual speech. For example: a crew constructs a dam, builds a house, erects the scaffolding, assembles the steel frame, and puts together the final report.

build ↗assemble ↗erect ↗put together ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • construct something from scratch
  • construct something out of nothing

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'constructus', the past participle of 'construere', meaning 'to pile up' or 'to build'. The prefix 'com-' means 'together' and 'struere' means 'to pile' or 'to build'. The word entered English in the 1300s through French. The noun sense, referring to an idea formed in the mind, developed in the 1800s as psychology and social sciences grew.