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Definition of construe

construe

/kənˈstruː/
con · strue
Adjective:construable
•
Past Simple:construed
•
Past Participle:construed
•
Present Participle:construing
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construe Lexical Profile

construe Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To interpret or understand the meaning of a word, action, or statement in a particular way.

Example

"Any refusal to cooperate with the auditors could be construed as an admission of fault."

2

To analyze the syntax and grammatical arrangement of a sentence or clause, often while translating from a foreign language (in linguistics and grammar).

Example

"Students in the advanced Latin seminar were asked to construe the complex passage from Cicero."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for construe

• Nearby Words

constructively
constructiveness
constructor
construe
consul
consular
consulate

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English construen, borrowed from Latin construere ('to heap together, build, or analyze grammatically'), from com- ('together') + struere ('to pile up, build'). It is a linguistic doublet of the later borrowing 'construct'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Construe. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/construe
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