concoct

verb

con·​coct kən-ˈkäkt 

kän-

concocted; concocting; concocts

transitive verb

1

: to prepare by combining raw materials

concoct a recipe

concocted a tropical fruit smoothie

2

: devise, fabricate

concoct an explanation

concocted a strategy to take control of the company

concocter noun

concoctive

kən-ˈkäk-tiv 

kän-

adjective

Synonyms

• construct
• contrive
• cook (up)
• devise
• drum up
• excogitate
• fabricate
• invent
• make up
• manufacture
• think (up)
• trump up
• vamp (up)

Examples of concoct in a Sentence

The drink was first concocted by a bartender in New York.

She concocted a stew from the leftovers.

Recent Examples on the Web

While serving in Joe Biden’s Justice Department, the special counsel concocted a novel legal case against Biden’s foremost political opponent and would have been happy to try Donald Trump in the midst of the presidential election campaign. —Rich Lowry, National Review, 10 Dec. 2024

Reminiscent of the classic strawberry frosted sprinkle donut, Dunkin' concocted a sugar cookie iced to perfection with vibrant pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2024

Each pack of spiced pecans, grown on a family estate in New Mexico, is carefully concocted to transport snackers to some of earth’s most beautiful settings. —Joni Sweet, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024

The Great British Baking Show Season-Finale Recap: Hangin’ Tough After a great season of back-to-basics challenges, the producers concoct a doozy of a final showstopper. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin concoctus, past participle of concoquere to cook together, from com- + coquere to cook — more at cook

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

concoct

verb

con·​coct kən-ˈkäkt 

kän-

1

: to prepare by combining various ingredients

concoct a stew

2

: to think up : invent

concoct a likely story

concoction

-ˈkäk-shən 

noun