concoct

verb

con·​coct kən-ˈkäkt How to pronounce concoct (audio)
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 adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the smartest things the subgroup of three commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick did in concocting a 12-team CFP format was to grant automatic playoff berths to the top six conference champions (later five after the Pac-12’s collapse). Chris Vannini, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 Maybe the purposefully ambiguous coda was concocted to prove some sort of Rashomon-style truth-is-subjective point. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025 The very last thing the world needs is another conspiracy theory, but hoo-boy, Chiefs fans could concoct one about ESPN’s broadcasters. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025 Prosecutors described Sanaa Cunningham’s death as the result of a murder plot concocted by her father and stepmother, Germayne and Lisa Cunningham, following months of abuse and neglect. Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for concoct

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of concoct was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Concoct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concoct. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

concoct

verb
con·​coct kən-ˈkäkt How to pronounce concoct (audio)
kän-
1
: to prepare by combining various ingredients
concoct a stew
2
: to think up : invent
concoct a likely story
concoction noun

More from Merriam-Webster on concoct

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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