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

Linda Gefen, Boca Raton The master of distraction Trump’s proposal that the U.S. take over the Gaza Strip and develop it into a beach paradise was concocted to distract us from his real agenda: demolish the government, replace federal workers with machines and give the savings to his rich friends. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025

Executive pastry chef Jess Robertson, Ian’s wife, concocts desserts ranging from $4 oatmeal cream pies to $100 banana splits. —USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025

No sacks despite all the blitzes defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could concoct. —Tim Cowlishaw The Dallas Morning News, arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025

To be sure, Republicans absolutely concocted a false moral panic to smuggle their agenda past millions of voters. —Samantha Riedel, Them, 7 Feb. 2025

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