deconstruct
/ˌdiːkənˈstrʌkt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdiːkənˈstrʌkt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌdē-kən-ˈstrəkt/ (ame, mw)
deconstruct — verb
- deconstructpresent simple I / you / we / they
- deconstructshe / she / it
- deconstructedpast simple
- deconstructing-ing form
1. to break a subject or idea into its basic pieces so that you can understand what
to break a subject or idea into its basic pieces so that you can understand what it truly means, often uncovering hidden assumptions or biases that were not obvious before
The documentary deconstructs the myth of the self-made billionaire by tracing his family's inherited wealth.
deconstruct + myth — revealing hidden assumptions
In his essay, Dr. Kwame Osei deconstructs the language used in political speeches to show how they create fear.
The workshop taught us to deconstruct a film scene by looking at camera angles, lighting, and sound separately.
Students were asked to deconstruct a news article and identify the writer's unstated opinions.
- construct
to build or assemble something from parts
- interpret at face value
to accept something as it appears without questioning it
文法句型
deconstruct + noun phrase (myth, argument, idea)
用法筆記
Frequently used in academic and analytical writing. The object is typically an abstract concept (myth, argument, ideology) rather than a physical object. Often implies revealing something negative or hidden — biases, power structures, or contradictions that the surface presentation tries to conceal.
常見錯誤
2. to study a piece of writing very closely in order to argue that the text has no
to study a piece of writing very closely in order to argue that the text has no single, stable meaning, and that instead every person who reads it creates their own understanding
The literature seminar deconstructed the poem, showing how each reader finds a different meaning in the same lines.
deconstruct + text — revealing multiple interpretations
Professor Ananya Sharma uses deconstruction to challenge the traditional reading of Shakespeare's plays.
By deconstructing the novel, the critic argued that the characters' identities are not fixed but shift with each reader's perspective.
The students learned to deconstruct short stories instead of searching for a single correct interpretation.
文法句型
deconstruct + text/poem/novel
用法筆記
This sense is specific to literary theory and philosophy, particularly associated with the work of the French thinker Jacques Derrida. Unlike sense 1 (ANALYZE STRUCTURE), which assumes a true meaning can be uncovered, this sense argues that meaning is never fixed or stable — it changes with every reader and every reading.
常見錯誤
3. to take an object, a piece of music, or a design apart and then put it back toge
to take an object, a piece of music, or a design apart and then put it back together in a completely different form, often as a creative or artistic act
The fashion designer deconstructed a classic suit jacket and turned it into a modern dress.
deconstruct + garment — taking apart to remake
In music class, Leo deconstructed a pop song and rebuilt it using only his voice.
The chef deconstructed the traditional pasta dish into separate parts and arranged them artistically on the plate.
Artists often deconstruct everyday objects and put them back together in surprising ways.
- rework
less analytical; focuses on altering without the emphasis on revealing hidden meaning
- reimagine
emphasizes the creative vision for a new form
- dismantle and rebuild
more literal and less specialized than 'deconstruct' in this sense
文法句型
deconstruct + object + into/and + new form
用法筆記
Common in art, fashion, music, and design contexts. The emphasis is on creative transformation — the result is not the same object reassembled, but something new and unexpected. Unlike sense 1, this sense involves physical objects as well as abstract ones, and unlike sense 2, it involves creating or rebuilding rather than purely analyzing.