construction

play

noun con·struc·tion \ kən-ˈstrək-shən \

Definition of construction

1 :the act or result of construing, interpreting, or explaining

2 a :the process, art, or manner of constructing something

Construction of the new bridge will begin in the spring.

; also :a thing constructed

b :the construction industry

working in construction

3 :the arrangement and connection of words or groups of words in a sentence :syntactical arrangement

That verb is often used in passive constructions.

4 :a sculpture that is put together out of separate pieces of often disparate materials

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constructional

play \kən-ˈstrək-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

—

constructionally

adverb

See construction defined for English-language learners

See construction defined for kids

Examples of construction in a Sentence

Construction of the new bridge will begin in the spring.
Construction on the bridge will occur daily from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Note the similar construction of the buildings.
Some people think it is wrong to end a sentence with a preposition, but the construction is quite common in English.
That verb is commonly used in passive constructions.
This word is used in positive constructions.

Recent Examples of construction from the Web

Coggins asked for donations to support the construction of a future monument to the Confederate Navy.

— connor sheets, AL.com, "New Confederate memorial unveiled in Alabama," 27 Aug. 2017
While Chef Daniel Humm, co-owner Will Guidara, and their team migrated to East Hampton to run the EMP Summer House pop-up restaurant, construction crews have been working to renovate the Michelin three-star restaurant.

— sam dangremond, Town & Country, "Eleven Madison Park Is Reopening in October," 25 Aug. 2017
Some buildings have been upgraded in keeping with tougher construction standards.

— rene rodriguez, miamiherald, "Should you ride out a hurricane in a high-rise?," 23 Aug. 2017
The company operates lift boats, odd-looking ships that are like a floating construction detail.

— justin nobel, Longreads, "Why Oil-Loving Louisiana Should Embrace America’s Coming Offshore Wind Boom," 23 Aug. 2017
A collaborative agreement between the West Clermont School District and Union Township in Clermont County made possible the construction of a new high school.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "New high school, no bond levy, no problem for this suburban school district," 21 Aug. 2017
In southeastern Peru, for instance, unauthorized road construction has been creeping toward an area where a group of Mashco Piro people have repeatedly emerged from the forest.

— barbara fraser, Science | AAAS, "Maps reveal how Amazon development is closing in on isolated tribes," 17 Aug. 2017
The monument’s cheap construction was immediately apparent on Monday evening, as the statue and top of the pedestal toppled easily, and the bronze figure bent like a paper clip immediately upon impact with the ground.

— jonathan m. katz, New York Times, "Protester Arrested in Toppling of Confederate Statue in Durham," 15 Aug. 2017
The construction of the Academy Museum is a big item on your agenda.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "New Academy President John Bailey on Diversity, Museum Plans, and the Oscars Telecast," 15 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'construction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of construction

see ¹construct

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

construction Synonyms

Synonyms

erection, structure

Related Words

arrangement, assembly; configuration, frame, framework, shell, skeleton; geography, geometry

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

CONSTRUCTION Defined for English Language Learners

construction

play

noun

Definition of construction for English Language Learners

: the act or process of building something (such as a house or road)
: the business of building things (such as houses or roads)
: the way something is built or made

CONSTRUCTION Defined for Kids

construction

play

noun con·struc·tion \ kən-ˈstrək-shən \

Definition of construction for Students

1 :the process, art, or manner of building something

2 :something built or put together :structure

a flimsy construction

3 :the arrangement of words and the relationship between words in a sentence

Law Dictionary

construction

play

noun con·struc·tion \ kən-ˈstrək-shən \

legal Definition of construction

:the act or result of construing, interpreting, or explaining meaning or effect (as of a statute or contract)

the construction placed upon an agreement
—J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo

Learn More about construction

See words that rhyme with construction Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for construction Spanish Central: Translation of construction Nglish: Translation of construction for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of construction for Arabic speakers

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construction

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constructional

constructionally

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Origin and Etymology of construction

construction Synonyms

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CONSTRUCTION Defined for English Language Learners

construction

Definition of construction for English Language Learners

CONSTRUCTION Defined for Kids

construction

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Law Dictionary

construction

legal Definition of construction

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