concoct

1 of 2

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

concocter

2 of 2

noun

con·​coct·​er

variants or less commonly concoctor

kən-ˈkäk-tər, 

(ˈ)kän-¦käk-

plural -s

: one that concocts : maker, fabricator

also : one that aids in concoction

Synonyms of concoct

Verb

• devise
• invent
• construct

Examples of concoct in a Sentence

Verb

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

She concocted a stew from the leftovers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Martha’s concocted plenty over the years, including her cider-bourbon cocktail made with apple cider, bourbon, lemon juice, ginger, and apple garnishes. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026

The young lady had specially flown in from New York and Alan had concocted a piece of simple blackmail. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026

The whole thing plays like something concocted by an 8th grader sitting in the back of biology class and doodling movie ideas in his notebook, offering more proof that Besson has never quite risen above the juvenile tendencies of his early years. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

As is true of the best novels, the story emerges not as a scheme concocted by the author, but as an organic outcome of each character’s growth over the life of the book. — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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