concrete 1 of 2

adjective

(ˌ)kän-ˈkrēt How to pronounce concrete (audio)
Definition of concretenext
1
as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility concrete evidence, and not just a theory, must be presented at a trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in physical
relating to or composed of matter concrete objects like rocks and trees

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort offered a practical, concrete solution to the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

concrete

2 of 2

verb

ˈkän-ˌkrēt How to pronounce concrete (audio)
1
as in to freeze
to become physically firm or solid the mortar slowly concreted in the mold

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to mix
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout a choral work that concretes music and dance into a stunning theatrical experience

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of concrete
Adjective
Dam workers and locals in Page, Arizona, have passed down stories from the 1980s and 1990s of boaters driving right up to the dam’s concrete rim, the elevation markers fully covered by water. — Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026 The statue, dedicated in 2008, stood on a concrete slab between lanes of traffic outside the Sacramento Youth Center in the 1900 block of Del Paso Boulevard. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
The Art Deco world of Poirot has long since been concreted over by some ’70s town planners, and the Miss Marple chintzy rural drawing room is not a place that many people frequent. — Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025 Number four, the history of the space concreted our decision to work there. — Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for concrete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concrete
  1. actual
  2. physical
  3. specific
  4. freeze
  5. mix
  6. real
  7. substantial
  8. special
Adjective
  • The longer the song goes on, the more the relentless pulse of the drums starts to seem indifferent and mechanical, an actual machine with no awareness of human life, while the drones grow longer and feel more and more like deep sighs.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The company disputes that 27 odor complaints since 2024 and 67 videos of work being done outside permitted hours referenced in a city staff report represent actual violations of the city’s noise, odor and operating hour rules.
    — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of actual
Adjective
  • Read Full Review Designed to tie in the five elements and the five senses, this Greek idyll is built into a mountain and has a large spherical pool as its physical and spiritual center.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There is humiliation here, claustrophobia, physical vulnerability and an intimacy that occasionally brushes against the erotic.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of physical
Adjective
  • In addition, only officers who have completed one of five specific agency training courses can conduct vehicle stops.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Each critic portrayed the historical monument as an object of reverence owing to age, with specific reference to the psycho-historical implications of restoration or, conversely, of neglect.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of specific
Verb
  • As a result of the layoffs and mass cancellation of contracts in early 2025, millions of NIH websites have been effectively frozen for nearly 18 months.
    — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Cuts are planned to come, in part, from freezing wages for public sector workers like teachers.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of freeze
Verb
  • The result is Ba’s Book, which mixes vérité documentary, re-enactments by family members in Vietnam and actors, as well as travelog into a heartfelt family film.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The Empress’s own 1908 Indigo Gin, which changes color depending on what’s mixed in, is absolutely delicious.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of mix
Adjective
  • Non-traditional cuts of steaks are the order of the day at Alvear Grill, while L'Orangerie y el Jardin d'Hiver serves a breakfast buffet that's a real treat, and afternoon tea with white-gloved waiters.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Those changes represented real progress, Davis said, but the industry largely failed to question the commercial system into which those materials were being introduced.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • That range gives a launcher positioned on Yonaguni the ability to threaten ships operating across a substantial area around the island and toward Taiwan.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The Underline’s construction is expected to wrap up by December, years early thanks to a substantial federal grant.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of substantial
Adjective
  • John had become seriously ill with a liver disease, and the couple had relocated to Koh Samui to seek out a special herb that grew here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • At certain Drees Homes communities nationwide, a special summer sale allows buyers up to $20,000 for outdoor features.
    — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of special

Browse Nearby Words

concourses
concrete
concreted
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Concrete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concrete. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on concrete

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about concrete

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of etiquette

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All