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

The principal action kicks off when Odell’s family discovers the curative properties of the unicorn and immediately concoct ways to monetize it. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025

The idea was to create a Manchurian Candidate, or puppet, though Morris doesn’t think the government came close to actually concocting one. —Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025

California grizzly 1, Russian bear 0. California was the big get, the land-rush catch of the century, of two centuries, and some pretty fanciful schemes were concocted to claim it. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025

Matthew Rankin, a Canadian historian and prankster, has concocted a starkly enchanting Winnipeg where Farsi is the main language of storefronts, guided tours and everyday grievances, like the woman who gripes about sharing a bus with a live turkey. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 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

Rhymes for concoct

• deadlocked
• landlocked
• padlocked
• unblocked
• unlocked
• balked
• blocked
• chalked
• clocked
• cocked
• docked
• flocked

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