concoct

verb

con·​coct kən-ˈkäkt 

kän-

concocted; concocting; concocts

transitive verb

1

: to prepare by combining raw materials

concoct a recipe

concocted a tropical fruit smoothie

2

: devise, fabricate

concoct an explanation

concocted a strategy to take control of the company

concocter noun

concoctive

kən-ˈkäk-tiv 

kän-

adjective

Synonyms of concoct

• devise
• invent
• construct

Examples of concoct in a Sentence

The drink was first concocted by a bartender in New York.

She concocted a stew from the leftovers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gyllenhaal, who also wrote her film, has corrected the imbalance, refashioning the story from the Bride’s perspective and concocting a protagonist of unfiltered feminist fury. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

Arias and her mother concocted the treat to resemble a large pink cupcake with sprinkles. —Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Feb. 2026

The ancient Greek philosopher Zeno used it to concoct all sorts of paradoxes. —Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 25 Feb. 2026

Since the advent of TV and radio, public figures have concocted deliberate soundbites to stick out and persuade the public. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin concoctus, past participle of concoquere to cook together, from com- + coquere to cook — more at cook

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for concoct

• deadlocked
• landlocked
• padlocked
• unblocked
• unlocked
• balked
• blocked
• chalked
• clocked
• cocked
• docked
• flocked

Kids Definition

concoct

verb

con·​coct kən-ˈkäkt 

kän-

1

: to prepare by combining various ingredients

concoct a stew

2

: to think up : invent

concoct a likely story

concoction

-ˈkäk-shən 

noun