construction

/kənˈstrʌkʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈstrʌkʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈstrək-shən/ (ame, mw)

construction — noun

  • constructionsingular
  • constructionsplural

1. the activity of putting up buildings, roads, bridges, or other large structures

1.名詞B1
釋義

the activity of putting up buildings, roads, bridges, or other large structures — including the planning, preparation, and physical work involved.

例句

The construction of the new airport runway began last spring and finished in December.

construction + of + [structure]

All workers must wear helmets on the construction site for safety reasons.

construction site — common compound noun

同義詞
  • building

    more general; can refer to any act of making, while construction suggests large-scale projects

  • assembly

    usually of pre-made parts; narrower than construction

  • erection

    formal and specific to putting up vertical structures like buildings or poles

反義詞
  • demolition

    the process of pulling down buildings or structures

文法句型

construction + of + noun

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable and refers to the process or industry. For an individual building, use sense 4 (a countable noun). When referring to the industry as a whole, it is often used without an article: 'She works in construction.'

常見錯誤

❌The construction of this building was completed.' (when construction is used correctly, this is fine)
✅The construction took two years.
💡Construction as a process is uncountable; don't add 'a' before it.

2. the business and all the people involved in building, repairing, and maintaining

2.名詞B1
釋義

the business and all the people involved in building, repairing, and maintaining buildings, roads, and other structures — seen as an economic sector.

例句

The construction industry employs millions of workers across the country.

the construction industry — standard term for the sector

Leila's father has worked in construction for over thirty years as a project manager.

in construction — working in the sector

同義詞
  • building trade

    more traditional and narrower; often refers to manual trades like bricklaying and carpentry

文法句型

in construction

the construction industry

用法筆記

Use 'in construction' (no article) when describing someone's field of work: 'She is in construction.' Use 'the construction industry' or 'the construction sector' when referring to the economic sector as a whole. This sense is uncountable.

常見錯誤

❌He works in the construction.
✅He works in construction.
💡When referring to the field or industry, use 'in construction' without 'the'.

3. the particular materials, design, or method used when something is built or made

3.名詞B1
釋義

the particular materials, design, or method used when something is built or made — referring to how solid, strong, or well-designed an object is.

例句

The table has a solid wooden construction that should last for decades.

adjective + construction (solid wooden construction)

Modern construction methods use steel frames and glass panels.

construction methods — how something is built

同義詞
  • make

    more informal and usually about manufactured goods rather than buildings

  • structure

    focuses on the arrangement of parts rather than materials or quality

文法句型

[noun] + construction

construction + of + [material]

用法筆記

Often paired with adjectives describing quality (solid, sturdy, poor, flimsy, light) or materials (wooden, steel, concrete, brick). The phrase 'of + adjective + construction' is a common formal pattern.

常見錯誤

❌The bridge has a very strong construction about it.
✅The bridge is of very strong construction.
💡Use 'of + adjective + construction' rather than 'has a... construction'.

4. a physical structure such as a bridge, dam, tower, or stadium that people have p

4.名詞B1
釋義

a physical structure such as a bridge, dam, tower, or stadium that people have put up.

例句

The stone construction near the river was once a grain mill.

stone construction — material + construction (a structure made of stone)

Several new constructions along the coast have changed the view of the beach.

new constructions — plural for multiple buildings

同義詞
  • building

    the everyday word; 'construction' in this sense sounds slightly more formal or technical

  • structure

    broader — includes things that are not buildings, like platforms or towers

用法筆記

This countable sense ('a construction') is less common than simply using 'building' or 'structure'. It is often used when the speaker wants to emphasise the building's age, material, or architectural style. In everyday conversation, 'building' is more natural.

5. a patterned way that a language lets you place words together inside a statement

5.名詞B2
釋義

a patterned way that a language lets you place words together inside a statement, like the passive pattern or a conditional pattern.

例句

The passive construction is often used in formal academic writing.

passive construction — grammar term + construction

Students practiced the 'used to' construction to talk about past habits.

同義詞
  • structure

    more general; any arrangement of parts, not just grammatical patterns

  • pattern

    less technical; a recurring form in language

文法句型

[grammatical term] + construction

用法筆記

In grammar teaching, the word is preceded by a modifier that names the type: 'passive construction', 'relative clause construction', 'comparative construction'. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌This sentence has a passive construction that I don't understand.' (correct usage) — The main mistake learners make is using 'construction' where 'structure' is more natural: ❌ 'The structure of this sentence is confusing.
✅The structure of this sentence is confusing.
💡'Construction' in grammar describes the pattern type, not the overall arrangement.

6. the way a person understands or views a situation, event, remark, or piece of in

6.名詞B2
釋義

the way a person understands or views a situation, event, remark, or piece of information — especially when there are different possible viewpoints.

例句

Theo put a positive construction on the manager's vague comments about the future.

put + adjective + construction + on — fixed pattern

Nadia's construction of the email made it seem like an apology, but others disagreed.

construction + of + noun — how someone reads a text

同義詞
  • interpretation

    more common in everyday language; less formal than 'construction'

  • reading

    informal; usually of texts or situations: 'my reading of the situation'

  • take

    informal noun: 'what's your take on this?'

文法句型

put a + adjective + construction + on + noun

construction + of + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'put a [adjective] construction on [something]'. The adjective indicates the type of interpretation (positive, negative, strict, generous, fair, unfair). Distinguish from sense 7: this sense focuses on interpreting a broad situation or set of facts, while sense 7 focuses on the specific meaning of words or statements.

常見錯誤

❌My construction of the problem is that we need more time.
✅My interpretation of the problem is that we need more time.
💡'Construction' in this sense is more formal and typically used with 'put a...construction on'; for everyday views, 'interpretation' is more natural.

7. the specific meaning that a person or authority gives to a word, sentence, contr

7.名詞C1
釋義

the specific meaning that a person or authority gives to a word, sentence, contract, law, or action — often in a legal or official context where precision matters.

例句

The judge placed a strict construction on the term 'reasonable force' in the contract.

strict construction — legal term; narrow interpretation of law

A broad construction of the safety rules allows the inspector to close any unsafe factory.

broad construction — wide interpretation of a rule

同義詞
  • interpretation

    broader and less formal; works in both legal and non-legal settings

  • reading

    slightly less formal; 'a reading of the text'

文法句型

put + construction + on + noun (words/statement/action)

用法筆記

Common in legal contexts: 'strict construction' (narrow, literal reading) vs 'broad/liberal construction' (wider reading that considers purpose). In non-legal contexts, sense 6 (INTERPRETATION) is more natural. The verb form 'construe' is related: 'The term is construed broadly.'

常見錯誤

❌What is your construction of this poem?
✅What is your interpretation of this poem?
💡For creative works like literature, use 'interpretation'; 'construction' in this sense sounds legal and technical.

8. the process of creating or forming something from ideas, knowledge, or mental ef

8.名詞C1
釋義

the process of creating or forming something from ideas, knowledge, or mental effort — such as building a theory, an argument, or a worldview.

例句

The construction of a scientific theory requires years of observation and testing.

construction of a theory — abstract mental building

Philosophers debate the social construction of gender roles in different cultures.

social construction — key academic collocation

同義詞
  • formation

    implies a natural or gradual process rather than deliberate building

  • development

    suggests growth over time rather than active assembly

反義詞

文法句型

construction + of + abstract noun

用法筆記

Common in academic and formal contexts, especially in phrases like 'social construction' (sociology), 'the construction of identity/knowledge/reality'. The related verb 'construct' is more common in everyday use: 'She constructed a strong argument.'

常見錯誤

❌The construction of my weekend plan was fun.
✅Planning my weekend was fun.
💡This sense is too formal for everyday activities like making plans.