MEANING
1. To interpret the meaning of words, actions, or circumstances in a particular way.
2. To analyze the grammatical structure of a text, often while translating it.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- construe as a threat
- construe narrowly
- construe a provision
On the page
The remark was construed as an admission of failure.
The court construed the provision narrowly.
She refused to construe his silence as consent.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- construe
- Past tense
- construed
- Past participle
- construed
- Present participle
- construing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- construe
- Present continuous
- am/is/are construing
- Present perfect
- have/has construed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been construing
- Past
- construed
- Past continuous
- was/were construing
- Past perfect
- had construed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been construing
- Future
- will construe
- Future continuous
- will be construing
- Future perfect
- will have construed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been construing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: academic. Forms: construe; construes; construed; construed; construing Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: construes.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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