Construe — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /kən-ˈstrü/ (verb) /ˈkän-ˌstrü/ (noun) con·strue

Meaning & Definition of Construe

Construe (verb)

  1. to understand or explain the sense or intention of usually in a particular way or with respect to a given set of circumstances
  2. to analyze the arrangement and connection of words in (a sentence or sentence part)
  3. to construe a sentence or sentence part especially in connection with translating

Construe (noun)

  1. an act or the result of construing especially by piecemeal translation

Construe (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make plain or understandable

    "the role of the justices of the Supreme Court in construing the constitution"

    similar: clarify, clear (up), demonstrate, demystify, elucidate, explain, explicate, expound, get across, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, simplify, spell out, unriddle
    related: decipher, decode, analyze, break down, disentangle, undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle, resolve, solve, define, specify, annotate, commentate, gloss
    opposite: obscure
    near: befog, cloud, confound, confuse, obfuscate

Related Entry: Misconstrue (verb)

Misconstrue is a different word from Construe. The synonyms below are for misconstrue, not for construe.

  1. to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of

    "claimed that the press had misconstrued her comments"

    similar: misapprehend, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misread, miss, mistake, misunderstand
    related: misconceive, misdeem, misjudge, mishear
    opposite: appreciate, apprehend, catch, comprehend, conceive, fathom, get, grasp, grok, know, make out, penetrate, perceive, savvy, see, seize, take in, understand

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Construe

The most common words with a similar meaning to Construe:

clarify, clear (up), demonstrate, demystify, elucidate, explain, explicate, expound, get across, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, simplify, spell out, unriddle

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Construe

Words with the opposite meaning of Construe:

obscure

Related Words for Construe

decipher, decode, analyze, break down, disentangle, undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle, resolve, solve, define, specify, annotate, commentate, gloss

Near Antonyms of Construe

befog, cloud, confound, confuse, obfuscate

Word Forms of Construe

Inflections: construed, construing

Derived words: construable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Construe

Middle English, from Late Latin construere, from Latin, to construct

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Construe

Words & Phrases Containing Construe

misconstrue

Frequently Asked Questions about Construe

What does "Construe" mean?

"Construe" means to understand or explain the sense or intention of usually in a particular way or with respect to a given set of circumstances. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to understand or explain the sense or intention of usually in a particular way or with respect to a given set of circumstances.

What is another word for "Construe"?

Other words for "Construe" include clarify, clear (up), demonstrate, demystify, elucidate, explain, explicate and expound. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Construe" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Construe"?

There are 31 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Construe". Common alternatives include clarify, clear (up), demonstrate, demystify, elucidate, explain, explicate, expound, get across and illuminate.

What is the opposite of "Construe"?

Antonyms of "Construe" include obscure. Near antonyms include befog, cloud, confound and confuse.

How do you use "Construe" in a sentence?

Examples of "Construe" in a sentence: "the role of the justices of the Supreme Court in construing the constitution".

Is "Construe" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Construe" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Construe" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Construe" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Construe"?

"Construe" is pronounced /kən-ˈstrü/ as a verb and /ˈkän-ˌstrü/ as a noun and divided into syllables as con·strue.