construction
Construction is the act of building something new, like a house or a bridge.
Explanation at your level:
Construction is a big word for building. When workers make a new house, they are doing construction. You can see construction signs on the street. It means things are being built right now.
When you see a road blocked off, there is usually a sign that says 'Construction Ahead.' This means people are working to fix or build the road. It is a very common word in cities.
We use construction to talk about the building industry. Many people have jobs in construction. It can also describe how something is made, like the construction of a toy or a piece of furniture.
In professional settings, we often say a project is 'under construction.' Beyond buildings, we use it for abstract things. For example, you might discuss the construction of a new policy or a legal framework.
In academic writing, construction often refers to how concepts are formed. We might analyze the 'social construction of reality,' meaning how our beliefs are built by culture. It implies that these things are not natural, but created by human effort.
At the highest level, construction embodies the philosophical idea of 'constructivism.' It suggests that knowledge is not discovered but built. This word bridges the gap between physical labor and intellectual synthesis, appearing in literature to describe the careful assembly of a narrative structure.
Palabra en 30 segundos
- Refers to building physical things.
- Refers to creating abstract ideas.
- Commonly used in the phrase 'under construction'.
- Related to the verb 'construct'.
When you hear the word construction, you probably picture hard hats, cranes, and busy workers building skyscrapers. That is the most common way we use it! It describes the physical act of putting things together to create a structure.
However, construction is also a very handy word for abstract ideas. Think about how you build an argument in an essay or how a linguist looks at the construction of a complex sentence. It is all about the arrangement of parts to form a whole.
The word construction comes from the Latin word constructio, which is formed from com- (together) and struere (to pile up). It literally means 'piling things up together.'
It entered Middle English via Old French in the 14th century. Interestingly, it was originally used more for the arrangement of words in grammar before it became the standard term for building houses and bridges in the 16th century.
In daily life, we use construction as an uncountable noun when talking about the industry. You might say, 'He works in construction.' When talking about a specific project, we often use it with 'under': 'The bridge is currently under construction.'
In formal or academic contexts, you might hear about the 'construction of identity' or the 'construction of a theory.' This implies that these things are not just 'there' but are actively built by social forces or logical steps.
While 'construction' itself isn't the core of many idioms, it appears in phrases like 'under construction', meaning something is still being worked on. Another is 'social construction', which refers to ideas that exist only because society agrees on them, like money or borders.
You might also hear 'in the construction of', which is a formal way of saying 'while building or making.' Finally, 'a work in progress' is a close cousin to the idea of something being under construction.
Construction is usually an uncountable noun when referring to the activity, but it can be countable when referring to a specific object or linguistic structure ('The building is a strange construction').
Pronunciation: UK /kənˈstrʌk.ʃən/ and US /kənˈstrʌk.ʃən/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like 'instruction', 'destruction', and 'obstruct-shun'.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with the word 'structure'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear stress on the second syllable.
Very similar to UK, standard American rhythm.
Common Errors
- Missing the 'r' sound
- Putting stress on the first syllable
- Pronouncing the 'tion' as 'shun' too softly
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanzado
Grammar to Know
Uncountable Nouns
Construction is hard.
Noun Phrases
The construction of the house.
Suffixes
-tion for nouns.
Examples by Level
The construction is loud.
The building work is noisy.
Uncountable noun usage.
The construction is new.
I see the construction.
Construction is hard work.
They like construction.
The construction is big.
Look at the construction.
Construction is finished.
The road is under construction.
My father works in construction.
They started the construction today.
The construction will take a year.
I heard the construction noise.
The construction site is closed.
We saw the construction crew.
Construction is slow today.
The construction of the bridge was difficult.
He studied construction management.
The building's construction is very modern.
We are planning the construction of a new school.
Construction costs have increased recently.
The construction phase is almost over.
She works for a large construction company.
The construction style is unique.
The construction of the argument was flawed.
Social construction plays a role in our beliefs.
The construction of the sentence is complex.
They are debating the construction of the new law.
The theory is a clever construction of facts.
The construction of the park was funded by the city.
He is an expert in bridge construction.
The construction of the narrative is quite suspenseful.
The article explores the social construction of gender.
His argument relies on the construction of a false dilemma.
The construction of the cathedral took over a century.
We must examine the construction of these historical myths.
The construction of the device is remarkably efficient.
Her work focuses on the construction of identity in literature.
The legal construction of the contract is ambiguous.
The construction of meaning is a subjective process.
The ontological construction of the universe is debated.
The novel is a brilliant construction of multiple perspectives.
He analyzed the linguistic construction of the ancient text.
The institutional construction of power is often invisible.
The construction of the argument is architecturally sound.
They deconstructed the construction of the national identity.
The construction of the hypothesis was based on weak data.
The construction of the symphony is masterfully layered.
Sinónimos
Antónimos
Colocaciones comunes
Idioms & Expressions
"under construction"
In the process of being built.
The new mall is still under construction.
neutral"social construction"
A concept created by social agreement.
Money is a social construction.
academic"a work in progress"
Something not yet finished.
My book is still a work in progress.
neutral"build from the ground up"
Start from the very beginning.
He built his business from the ground up.
neutral"put together"
To assemble or construct.
I need to put together this shelf.
casual"lay the foundations"
Prepare the basics for a future project.
We are laying the foundations for a new policy.
neutralEasily Confused
Opposite meanings.
Building vs breaking.
Construction vs destruction.
Similar ending.
Teaching vs building.
Follow the instruction vs the building construction.
Related root.
Result vs process.
The construction of the structure.
Verb vs Noun.
Action vs thing.
I construct a building.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + under + construction
The road is under construction.
The + construction + of + noun
The construction of the house took time.
Noun + is + a + construction
This is a strange construction.
Verb + the + construction
They finished the construction.
Adjective + construction
The complex construction was impressive.
Familia de palabras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
Errores comunes
Industry is uncountable.
They are opposites.
It's versatile.
Idiomatic usage.
Don't forget the 'r'.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a crane building a giant letter 'C'.
When Native Speakers Use It
When talking about road delays.
Cultural Insight
The term is used heavily in sociology.
Grammar Shortcut
Use 'under' before construction.
Say It Right
Stress the middle syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't add an extra 't' in the middle.
Did You Know?
It comes from the Latin for 'piling up'.
Study Smart
Group it with 'instruction' and 'destruction'.
Context Matters
Use it for buildings or arguments.
Pluralization
Use 'constructions' for multiple distinct structures.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
CON-STRUCT-ION: CON (with) + STRUCT (build) + ION (process).
Visual Association
A hard hat and a blueprint.
Word Web
Desafío
Describe something you built recently.
Origen de la palabra
Latin
Original meaning: To pile up together.
Contexto cultural
None.
Commonly used in news reports regarding infrastructure.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- Construction site
- Construction manager
- Under construction
At school
- Sentence construction
- Argument construction
- Theory construction
In daily life
- Construction noise
- Road construction
- New construction
In sociology
- Social construction
- Construction of identity
- Cultural construction
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever worked in construction?"
"Do you think social construction is a real concept?"
"How do you feel about the road construction in our city?"
"What is the most impressive construction you have seen?"
"How do you improve your sentence construction in English?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a building project you were involved in.
Explain the social construction of a common idea.
Describe a time you built something from scratch.
How does the construction of a story change how we feel?
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntasIt depends on the context.
Construct.
Yes, sentence construction.
kən-STRUK-shun.
It is neutral and widely used.
Destruction.
Only when referring to a specific object.
Yes, very often.
Ponte a prueba
The new house is under ___.
Under construction is the standard phrase.
Which of these is a construction site?
Construction sites are for building.
Construction can refer to an idea.
Yes, abstract construction is common.
Word
Significado
Synonyms/Antonyms.
The bridge is under construction.
The ___ of the theory was complex.
Needs a noun.
What is a 'social construction'?
It's an abstract concept.
Construction is always countable.
It is often uncountable.
Word
Significado
Adjective contrast.
The construction of identity is complex.
Puntuación: /10
Summary
Construction is the process of building, whether it is a physical house or an abstract idea.
- Refers to building physical things.
- Refers to creating abstract ideas.
- Commonly used in the phrase 'under construction'.
- Related to the verb 'construct'.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a crane building a giant letter 'C'.
When Native Speakers Use It
When talking about road delays.
Cultural Insight
The term is used heavily in sociology.
Grammar Shortcut
Use 'under' before construction.
Ejemplo
The construction of the new high-speed rail network is behind schedule due to funding issues.
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Aprende en contexto
Esta palabra en otros idiomas
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absigntude
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accomplishment
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achievement
C1Es completar algo con éxito, usualmente con esfuerzo o habilidad. Es un logro importante.
adantiary
C1Ajustar o modificar un plan o proceso de antemano para anticipar problemas futuros.
adept
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adflexship
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adhument
C1'Adhument' significa dar apoyo o reforzar algo que ya existe. Es como añadir más soporte a una estructura para hacerla más fuerte.
