construction

noun

con·struc·tion | \ kən-ˈstrək-shən

Definition of construction

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

2a : 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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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 on the Web

Charles and Camilla were there to unveil a plaque and officially reopen the castle, which has been under construction since 2014, to visitors. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Prince Charles and Camilla Are Spending Their Wedding Anniversary in Northern Ireland," 9 Apr. 2019 Meanwhile, residential building permits, which can signal how much construction is in the pipeline, dropped 1.6% in February after... — Sharon Nunn, WSJ, "Home Building, New-Home Permits Have Softened This Year," 26 Mar. 2019 Along the shore, small places to stay range from simple $50-a-night cabins to several hundred-thousand-dollar villas with plunge pools and sea views, still under construction and being snapped up sight unseen. — Horatio Clare, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why You Should Go to Belize Now," 21 Dec. 2018 Remember, construction and destruction are ultimately two sides of the same coin: In nature, the rotting leaf provides the nutrients for a new bud to bloom. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "What August's Capricorn Horoscope Means for You," 30 July 2018 Thankfully the 3,600-square-foot house wasn’t in need of all-consuming structural work—just an aesthetic overhaul to bring the circa-2000 construction in line with Sims’s penchant for traditional design with a preppy spin. — Jennifer Fernandez, House Beautiful, "The Paint Trick That Instantly Makes Your Home Look More Polished," 22 Mar. 2019 Every Fixer Upper fan knows that while Chip Gaines handles the construction for their projects, Joanna is the brains behind the design. — Jessica Leigh Mattern, Country Living, "Joanna Gaines Reveals the One Thing Chip Asked for When They Bought Their Farmhouse," 27 Jan. 2019 And the mentality still exists of that construction is no place for a woman. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Barbara Kavovit Is the Newest RHONY Cast Member. Here's What You Should Know About Her.," 6 Mar. 2019 Charles Kushner’s father, Joseph Kushner, a Holocaust survivor, immigrated to the U.S. in 1949 and became a construction worker and later a developer of garden apartments in suburban New Jersey. — Peter Grant, WSJ, "Kushner Cos. Pays $1.1 Billion for Suburban Apartment Portfolio," 22 Feb. 2019

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.

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Last Updated

13 Apr 2019

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The first known use of construction was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for construction

construction

noun

English Language Learners Definition of construction

: 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

See the full definition for construction in the English Language Learners Dictionary

construction

noun

con·struc·tion | \ kən-ˈstrək-shən

Kids Definition of construction

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

construction

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